[Federal Register: December 6, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 233)]
[Notices]               
[Page 68200]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de99-109]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Finance Docket No. 33825]

 
Wisconsin Chicago Link Ltd.--Acquisition Exemption--Wisconsin 
Central Ltd.

    Wisconsin Chicago Link Ltd. (WCLL), a noncarrier, has filed a 
notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to acquire from Wisconsin 
Central Ltd. (WCL) approximately 4.1 miles of rail line (the Forest 
Park Line) extending between milepost 10.9 in Forest Park, IL, and 
milepost 15.0 in Franklin Park, IL.<SUP>1</SUP> WCL will retain 
trackage rights over the Forest Park Line, which lies within the 
Chicago terminal district and connects at Forest Park with the west end 
of the Altenheim Subdivision of The Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal 
Railroad Company (B&OCT), a subsidiary of CSX Transportation, Inc. 
WCL's primary Chicago-area yard facility, Schiller Park Yard, lies 
north of Franklin Park.
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    \1\ WCLL states that its revenues will not exceed those that 
would qualify it as a Class III rail carrier and its revenues are 
not projected to exceed $5 million.
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    WCLL and WCL are wholly owned subsidiaries of Wisconsin Central 
Transportation Corporation (WCTC). WCLL previously filed a notice of 
exemption to lease approximately 1.9 miles of rail line (the Panhandle 
Line) of the former Pittsburgh Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad 
Company in Chicago, Cook County, IL. See Wisconsin Chicago Link Ltd.--
Lease Exemption--Pennsylvania Lines LCC, STB Finance Docket No. 33810 
(STB served Nov. 8, 1999). The Panhandle Line connects with the east 
end of the B&OCT Altenheim Subdivision.
    WCLL states in its notice that, due to unforeseen delays, execution 
of the Panhandle Line lease will not occur in accordance with the 
schedule previously contemplated. WCLL further states that, because it 
will become a carrier upon consummation of the Forest Park Line 
acquisition, the exemption that it obtained in STB Finance Docket No. 
33810 to lease the Panhandle line as a noncarrier will no longer be 
appropriate. Accordingly, on November 19, 1999, WCLL concurrently filed 
with this notice, a letter of withdrawal of its verified notice of 
exemption in STB Finance Docket No. 33810.
    At the time of filing of this notice, an asset purchase agreement 
between WCLL and WCL providing for WCLL's acquisition of the Forest 
Park Line and WCL's retention of trackage rights on that line was 
expected to be finalized and executed within a week.<SUP>2</SUP>
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    \2\ WCL will initially continue to provide operations on the 
Forest Park Line pursuant to retained trackage rights.
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    WCLL indicates that WCTC will shortly be filing a petition for 
exemption in a related proceeding in STB Finance Docket No. 33811, 
Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation--Continuance in Control 
Exemption--Wisconsin Chicago Link Ltd., wherein WCTC will seek to 
continue in control of WCLL <SUP>3</SUP> once it acquires the Forest 
Park Line and becomes a carrier.
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    \3\ Pending a Board decision granting WCTC's petition for 
exemption to control WCLL, the stock of WCLL will be placed in an 
independent voting trust established in accordance with 49 CFR 1013.
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    The transaction was expected to be consummated on or shortly after 
November 26, 1999.
    If the notice contains false or misleading information, the 
exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the exemption under 49 
U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of a petition to 
revoke will not automatically stay the transaction.
    An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to STB 
Finance Docket No. 33825, must be filed with the Surface Transportation 
Board, Office of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, one copy of each pleading must 
be served on Janet H. Gilbert, 6250 North River Road, Suite 9000, 
Rosemont, IL 60018.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our website at 
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.''

    Decided: November 29, 1999.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-31553 Filed 12-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P