A deadline has come and gone and still no final word from Transport Canada regarding a decision on a plan to save passenger service on the ACR line from the Sault to Hearst.  The federal government is being asked to contribute seven million dollars over a five year period to allow Railmark Canada to take over operations of the rail line—both passenger service and the tour train.  The feds provided funds to allow CN to continue operating the service for a one year extended period but that came to an end as of today.  EDC Chief Executive Officer Tom Dodds says he believes no news isn’t necessarily bad news…

Dodds says what makes him feel this way is that regulatory staff is taking the time to work with Railmark Canada and CN in helping them to acquire all the needed approvals for Railmark to take over.   It’s hoped our area won’t go without passenger service for long…

We also don’t know when a decision will be made and now with the deadline passed that’s a concern for Dodds…