Railroad’s owner, Rochester officials to meet next week

11/19/2007

ROCHESTER - Canadian Pacific Railway officials are expected to meet with Rochester leaders next week for the first time since the railroad announced it is buying the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad, local officials said.

The main topic is expected to be Canadian Pacific's plans to carry out a coal train project that the DM&E planned, and that Rochester fought in court and in Congress. The city and the Mayo Clinic oppose the expansion because of a potential tenfold increase in train traffic through Rochester.

The private meeting is likely to take place Nov. 27 in Canada. Canadian Pacific is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta.

Olmsted County Commissioner Ken Brown said he was encouraged that the invitation came from Canadian Pacific. He said he hoped it might be a sign that Canadian Pacific will be an easier negotiating partner than the DM&E.

Brown, who represents the county government on the Rochester Coalition, which was formed to oppose the project, said he can't attend because the County Board will have its 2008 budget discussions that week, but he would if he could.

"I know that we [Rochester] will be well-represented," Brown said.

Canadian Pacific announced its $1.48 billion purchase of DM&E on Sept. 5. The deal includes up to $1.05 billion in incentives and Canadian Pacific's assumption of $250 million of DM&E's debt, which means the overall value of the deal might be as much as about $2.7 billion.