Allen tells us more about his new plan

Feeling as though the city of Sault Ste. Marie blocked his efforts to continue running ACR passenger rail service in Algoma, Railmark CEO B. Allen Brown has a new plan — bypass Sault Ste. Marie altogether.

Brown’s new plan is to run a completely separate passenger service which runs between Hawk Junction and Hearst in support of the businesses along that part of the line.

He announced the plan by news release on Thursday evening.

“What I am trying to do is offer a plan that takes the control of these people’s livelihoods in these communities out of the hands of Sault Ste. Marie and into their own hands,” said Brown by phone Thursday.

He said businesses running north of Hawk Junction have been suffering because of decisions made 200 to 400 miles away in Sault Ste. Marie.

“One mistake I think I made was continuing to rely on the stakeholders group instead of doing our own relationship building ourselves. It’s not too late. I think this is a good plan going forward,” he said.

He expects CN will be open to the new plan as long as they are being paid for usage.

“All CN was looking for was the ability to pay the track access fees. If we do the Hawk to Hearst and get half of the federal funding, then that mechanism is in place,” said Brown.

While he is still committed to running the entire service from Sault Ste. Marie to Hearst, Brown said this new plan will serve the needs of the north end of the line, which he said is the busier end for tourism.

“Are you just going to wipe out an entire tourist season for these people? I think it’s unconscionable,” he said.

Brown said he has been in contact with Algoma MP Carol Hughes, as the proposed Hawk Junction to Hearst service would run entirely through her constituency.

“Here we have people who are really suffering in your riding. I have a solution. The people of Hearst have just as much say in approaching the government as the city of Sault Ste. Marie,” he said.

Hughes was contacted Friday morning but did not respond for comment.

(FILE PHOTO: B. Allen Brown speaks at the Civic Centre. Darren Taylor/SooToday)