South Dakota doesn’t give up its socialism easily. After calling for bids for all nine lines of South Dakota’s remaining socialist network for rail lines, the State Railroad Board decided Wednesday to reject all proposals except for one, the bid from quarrier and railroader LG Everist to acquire the 49.4-mile Sioux Valley Line from Elk Point to Canton and its 18.6-mile spur from Beresford to Hawarden, Iowa. The Sioux Valley Line isn’t a done deal by any means; LG Everist, which already runs its D&I cars on that track, now gets to negotiate with the state for possible purchase of the line.
Transportation Secretary Darin Bergquist says the state still wants to sell all of its lines at some point, if it gets the right kind of proposals:
We are pleased the Board agreed to move forward with negotiations for the Sioux Valley Line and look forward to discussing the possible sale of this railroad asset with LG Everist…. Although we are disappointed with the result of proposals for the other lines, we learned a lot by going through the process and feel there will be other opportunities for future solicitations. The goal is to get these rail lines back in the hands of private entities, as long as it is the best interest of the State of South Dakota [Secretary Darin Berguist, Department of Transportation, press release, 2019.12.18].
So, all you folks who’d like to build a bike trail from Huron to Yale, or Britton to Aberdeen, or Mitchell to Kadoka—you still have your chance!
Think of the growth generated by a high-speed rail line between Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Just sayin’.
Well, LG Everest almost had to try to buy the line since he is almost the only user. If an outsider were to buy it he might have to actually pay real money to use it instead of the “gift” he’s been getting from the brilliant state of South Dakota. it almost looks as if the Republican party is out to show that nothing should be allowed to work except “privatization”.
The returns the state has been getting from these lines would make any sound business man decide to shut them down and sell the rails for scrap.
Yet there is nothing wrong with rail roads except that they have to compete with the idiocy of our road system’s. The trucking industry does 1400 times more damage to our roads yet their fees are no where near paying their fair share. While Europe built up their rail roads in the 80’s we tore ours out. Best plan under Reagan!
You can expect LG to get a deal!!!!