Small Railroad Lease Approved in Washington State
Published Date: 6/18/2026
Notice
Summary
BLPIRR LLC is set to lease and operate about 3.5 miles of rail lines in Whitman County, Washington, from the State Department of Transportation starting July 4, 2026. This move won’t limit other rail companies from connecting, and BLPI expects to make under $5 million a year, keeping it a small rail operator. It’s a smooth switch that keeps local rail service rolling without big changes or costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Local rail service continues in Whitman County
If you ship goods by rail in Whitman County, Washington, BLPI will lease and operate the rail Line starting July 4, 2026. The Line includes about 3.27 miles of the WIM Industrial Lead, a 950-foot Peterson Crossover, and a 2,075-foot Peterson House Track, and BLPI says this change will keep local rail service operating without big changes or costs.
Interchange access remains open to third parties
BLPI's lease agreement does not include any commitments that would limit future interchange with a third-party connecting carrier. This means third-party rail companies can still connect with the Line after BLPI begins operations.
BLPI stays a small Class III carrier (under $5M)
BLPI certifies that its projected annual revenue from this lease will not exceed $5,000,000 and that the transaction will not create a Class I or II rail carrier. BLPI is therefore a Class III rail carrier under this arrangement.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-19099, Ventura County Railroad Company-Operation Exemption-Ventura County Railway Company, LLC
Ventura County Railroad Company is extending its agreement to operate about 12 miles of rail lines around Port Hueneme and Oxnard for another five years, with an option to add five more. This means VCRR will keep running trains on these tracks without big changes to costs or services, starting October 4, 2026. The deal keeps VCRR as a small rail carrier, making sure local freight keeps moving smoothly.
2026-19105, The Great Walton Railroad Company, Inc.-Continuance in Control Exemption-The Athens Line, LLC
The Great Walton Railroad Company (GWRC) is fixing a paperwork slip-up by officially getting permission to keep controlling The Athens Line, LLC, a small railroad it owns. This move won’t change how the railroads connect or affect big rail companies, and it kicks in on October 4, 2026. No extra costs or employee protections are involved since it’s all small railroads.
2026-18785, CSX Transportation, Inc.-Abandonment Exemption-in Anne Arundel County, Md.
CSX Transportation is planning to stop using a short 0.72-mile rail line in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, because no trains have run there in two years. This change won’t affect local traffic since trains can use other routes, and employees impacted will get job protections. The shutdown will happen on October 15, 2026, unless someone steps in with a financial offer or legal challenge by late September or early October.
2026-18530, Fortress Investment Group LLC, et al.-Intra-Corporate Family Transaction Exemption
Fortress Investment Group is reshuffling its rail companies to make things run smoother. They’re moving control of Wheeling Corporation and its railroads from one part of their family to another, all under Wheeling Holding Company. This change won’t cost extra and keeps Fortress in charge, aiming for better teamwork and efficiency starting now.
2026-18420, Flixbus SE, Flix North America Inc., and Greyhound Lines, Inc.-Control-Greyhound Central Bus LLC
On August 11, 2026, Flix SE, a noncarrier, Flix North America Inc. (Flix North America), a noncarrier, and Greyhound Lines, Inc. (Greyhound), an interstate passenger motor carrier (collectively, Applicants), filed an application seeking Board approval to continue in control of Greyhound Central Bus LLC (Central), a newly formed subsidiary of Applicants, upon Central becoming a federally regulated passenger motor carrier. The Board is tentatively approving and authorizing the proposed continuance in control. If no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action.
2026-18121, Henry Posner, III-Control Exemption-Morristown & Erie Railway, Inc.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-12290, Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway LLC-Lease and Operation-BLPIRR LLC
Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway LLC is set to lease and operate about 3.3 miles of rail line in Whitman County, Washington, from BLPIRR LLC starting July 4, 2026. This move won’t limit connections with other railroads and won’t create a bigger railroad company. The deal is expected to bring in less than $5 million a year, keeping things local and smooth.
Next: 2026-12292, Procurement List; Proposed Additions and Deletions
The government plans to add new cleaning and groundskeeping services to its special list, which supports nonprofits employing people who are blind or severely disabled. At the same time, some helmet covers will be removed from the list. Comments on these changes are open until July 18, 2026, so interested folks can weigh in before the updates take effect.