BNSF Does Not Want To Share Space With LRT

[SOO2719]

BNSF does not want to share space along its Monticello Subdivison with the Blue Line LRT extension:

http://kstp.com/news/blue-line-expansion-met-council-bnsf-negotiations-/4782044/

[Mark D]

I am a bit confused on which line that Minneapolis seems to want to operate a train. I did see a very rough map, but too small to really make out anything. But it seems to head almost due west for a mile or five and then turns up nearly north.
It is also said by the Minneapolis people is that things like this always start out with playing hard to get. Well, maybe so or maybe not. It could well be that the BNSF would like to keep their wide ROW for future double track.

Is this the main line to St. Cloud? If so, it's already host to the Northstar trains plus a LOT of freight. There is a lot of double track along there, but there is also a good stretch where the second track was ripped up long before BNSF was a gleam in the eyes of the merging railroads which founded the BNSF.

If not that, which line? Out to Monticello? Good luck with that, Mpls.

Mark D.

[SOO2719]

The BNSF line in question is the ex-Great Northern line to Monticello, which once went to St. Cloud, forming the GN's "west side" line.

[SOO2719]

Here is a link to a video "flyover" of the Blue Line extension:

https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Current-Projects/METRO-Blue-Line-Extension/Visualization.aspx

This video/map has great detail.

[Mark D]

Well, I can foresee a number of reasons why BNSF wouldn't like the City of Minneapolis running trains along that route. Only one of them being that if they ever need to double track along there they wouldn't have the space anymore. Moreover, it appears in the You Tube live map that there isn't much room for machinery for track work once another line is added. Also problems during the construction period with machinery fouling the BNSF track. I could go on and on and never hit on the real reason, but if BNSF doesn't like the idea - well, it's their railroad.

Mark D.