Opinion ID: 393013
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Condition to Abandonment

Text: 45 Those protesting the Connersville branch abandonment challenge the portion of the ICC's decision that conditions abandonment upon N&W's good faith offer to sell to ConRail the stretch over which the latter railroad operates pursuant to a trackage rights agreement. The requirement was placed on N&W in order to protect the interests of the Ford plant, which presently is served by ConRail. The petitioners claim that the condition is pointless since it does not guarantee train service to Ford: if no sale is consummated, the petitioners say, ConRail must stop operations on the line. 46 The petitioners' argument is meritless. Aside from questions of these petitioners' standing to attack that portion of the decision (Ford has not sought review), it is evident that ConRail will retain its trackage rights regardless of abandonment by N&W. On this point the ICC and the administrative law judge were in agreement. The ICC must approve termination of ConRail's present operation, and the ICC's order permits rather than requires N&W's abandonment of this Connersville segment. See Chicago and North Western Railway Company v. Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company, 502 F.2d 193 (7th Cir. 1974). The order to attempt a sale protects Ford's interests, and leaves open the possibility that an orderly transfer of the affected segment will obviate the need for the ICC either to approve abandonment by ConRail or to order continued upkeep by N&W. The ICC's order, as it stands, leaves the option in the carriers' hands as an initial matter, subject to further ICC inquiry should the need arise. The decision was rational, and we deny the challenge to it.