Agriculture and agribusiness are a major part of the Federal Region VII economy. Since the Great Plains is geographically remote from major domestic and foreign food consumption centers, the economic viability of Great Plains agriculture depends on efficient, low cost rail transportation. However, recent trends in the rail industry have resulted in the loss of rail service for many rural shippers. In March, 1991 two bills were passed in the Kansas legislature, (a similar bill passed in Nebraska) that would provide state assistance to short line railroads. A bill that would require Class I railroads to make a good faith effort to sell lines targeted for abandonment was introduced federally. As Class I rail mileage continues to fall, legislators, rural communities, and shipper groups may ask for assistance in establishing short lines. The four states in Region VII need to know if short lines offer an economically viable method of grain transportation in order to evaluate the question of state assistance for rail short lines.


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    Title :

    State Short Line Railroads and the Rural Economy


    Contributors:
    M. W. Babcock (author) / E. R. Russell (author) / M. Prater (author) / J. Morrill (author)

    Publication date :

    1993


    Size :

    174 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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