Class III Merrimack & Grafton Railroad Corp. (MGRC), a subsidiary of Trans Rail Holding Co., has entered into an operating agreement with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) to assume common-carrier operations over approximately 52 route-miles of railroad owned by the State of New Hampshire, replacing the New Hampshire Central Railroad, Inc. (NHCR) as exclusive operator.
The rail lines, located in Grafton and Coos Counties, N.H., and Essex County, Vt., include:
- Milepost P 131.93 at North Stratford, N.H., to milepost P 145.21 at Colebrook, N.H.
- Milepost C 119.86 east of Wing Road in Bethlehem, N.H., to milepost C 130.7/P 101.9 at Hazen Road in Whitefield, N.H
- Milepost C 130.7/P 101.9 at Hazen Road in Whitefield to milepost P 112.46/C 137.42 at Lancaster, N.H.
- Milepost P 112.46/C 137.42 at Lancaster to milepost C 145.76 (proximate to the Whistle Post located south of the West Street crossing at the connection with the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad Company) at Groveton, N.H.
- Milepost P 100.91 at Whitefield to milepost P 111.57 at Lunenburg, Vt.
The transaction is expected to be consummated on or after May 26, 2024, 30 days after a verified notice of exemption was filed with the Surface Transportation Board (Docket No. FD 36771). According to MGRC, this transaction “is categorically excluded from environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic preservation reporting requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b).”
