The prospect of a resurgence of freight shipped
by rail may be a positive development on multiple fronts, however,
residents who live along the local rail system and motorists in general
are right to express their concerns.
Use of
the rail line from Newington through Portsmouth, Greenland and Stratham
to the Rockingham Junction on the Newfields-Newmarket town line has been
largely dormant for as long as most residents can remember. However,
the line was never abandoned and the day was likely to come that its use
would rise again. Beyond the shipping of freight — and it is the plan
of Sea-3 in Newington to ship propane via the Newington-Portsmouth
branch that produced concerns — it remains the hope of many that
passenger service could also resume.
Increased freight shipping via railroads can
get many tractor-trailers and other commercial shipping vehicles off
local and state roads and interstates and decrease the reliance on
standard fuels. The operation of trains would also potentially have a
regional and national economic impact.
Furthermore,
increased rail freight could lead to substantial upgrades of the
tracks, which would improve the chances of restoring passenger service
that must operate at speeds in excess of the 10 mph currently allowed on
the Newington-Portsmouth branch.
With all
that said, the many residents whose homes are near the rail lines need
to have their concerns addressed. Because of federal regulations, local
communities have no legal say over what is shipped on rail lines.
However, that doesn't mean the rail company, Pan Am Railways, the
Federal Railroad Administration, Sea-3 and its parent company, Trammo,
can't address resident concerns in a fair and open manner.
This is particularly true when it comes to shipping a fuel such as propane, or others for that matter.
There
are many concerns about the condition and safety of the current tracks
that roll through downtown Portsmouth, pass through rural areas of
Greenland and cross over Great Bay. The first attempt to assess the
condition of the tracks proved difficult. The FRA was not forthcoming
with information on the condition of the tracks last week. It provided
only a fact sheet on federal track safety standards, and said the latest
track inspection report would be made available only through a Freedom
of Information Act request, which Seacoast Media Group filed.
The
issue extends beyond the current condition of the tracks. According to
Cynthia Scarano, executive vice president of Pan Am Railways, the tracks
of the Newington-Portsmouth branch currently limit train speed to 10
mph. Ensuring the safety of the tracks to allow for the shipping of
propane is step one, but learning more about any potential improvements
that would allow faster speeds must be discussed.
The
area is not used to seeing trains on the tracks, and the few that do
use them crawl along. More trains, traveling faster through areas not
used to seeing them, is one reason to bring all parties to the table to
discuss how rail commerce can be safely permitted.
All
crossings must be thoroughly inspected to ensure there is proper sight
distance and signage and, wherever necessary, to feature lighted signals
and stopping arms. Any other protective measures, such as fencing in
residential areas, should also be considered.
Federal
regulations protect the right of interstate commerce along the rail
system, and that is a good thing as rail for freight and passenger
service, is a vital link; a promising alternative to highways. But that
doesn't mean local residents' concerns should be pushed aside. There is
promise here. The ability to revive rail service lies in the hands of
the business that owns the lines, the businesses that will use them and
the federal agency that regulates them. It is necessary that a balanced
approach is taken to the revival of the rails.
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