Published: Thursday, April 22, 2010
Snohomish tourist train taps brakes on plan
SNOHOMISH — A tourist train originally planned to start operating as early as Memorial Day may not get rolling until fall.
Doug Engle, chief financial officer for GNP Railway, said delays in financing have slowed the company’s plans to run the train between Woodinville and Snohomish.
“This is all about doing what we can do, and then moving on to the next step,” Engle said.
The company began running freight service between Woodinville and Snohomish in January, after the Port of Seattle purchased the track right-of-way in December from Burlington Northern Santa Fe for $81 million.
Many in Snohomish are zoned in on the tourist train, however, with some hoping it will boost the local economy.
GNP Railway may begin light service in the summer, with regular trips starting in the fall, Engle said.
By 2011, the company hopes to run trains from Snohomish to Woodinville and Redmond, Engle said.
More than 70 people attended a Snohomish Historical Society meeting on Wednesday night to hear Engle discuss those plans.
Engle took the blame for the original timeline during that presentation.
“We’re hoping in 2011 to bring you lots of tourists,” he told the crowd.
Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455; arathbun@heraldnet.com
Doug Engle, chief financial officer for GNP Railway, said delays in financing have slowed the company’s plans to run the train between Woodinville and Snohomish.
“This is all about doing what we can do, and then moving on to the next step,” Engle said.
The company began running freight service between Woodinville and Snohomish in January, after the Port of Seattle purchased the track right-of-way in December from Burlington Northern Santa Fe for $81 million.
Many in Snohomish are zoned in on the tourist train, however, with some hoping it will boost the local economy.
GNP Railway may begin light service in the summer, with regular trips starting in the fall, Engle said.
By 2011, the company hopes to run trains from Snohomish to Woodinville and Redmond, Engle said.
More than 70 people attended a Snohomish Historical Society meeting on Wednesday night to hear Engle discuss those plans.
Engle took the blame for the original timeline during that presentation.
“We’re hoping in 2011 to bring you lots of tourists,” he told the crowd.
Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455; arathbun@heraldnet.com
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