Rural Rail Upgrades to be discussed on Compass July 10

The daunting process of rehabilitating a small short-line railroad will be discussed on Pioneer Public Television’s Compass public affairs program airing on Sunday, July 10, 2016, at 12:30 p.m.  Twin Cities and Western (TC&W) railroad president Mark Wegner and former state legislator and Government Relations specialist for Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Coalition and Rail Authority (MVRRA) Mike Beard met up with Pioneer’s Laura Kay Prosser in Glencoe for a taped interview about how five counties are working together to upgrade 94 miles of track to support higher speeds and safer and more efficient rail service. As the former Chair of the Minnesota House Transportation Policy Committee, Beard offers his perspective on the importance of maintaining rail infrastructure in rural areas.  MVRRA Administrator Julie Rath also is featured in an in-studio discussion with Pioneer General Manager Les Heen about the Minnesota Prairie Line rehabilitation effort. 

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