Railroaded Print
Article
By Heidi Effinger
November 23, 2004

A letter from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation sent to the non-profit group Old Colony and Newport Railway on Nov. 9 mandated that the group either sign an agreement making it answerable to the for-profit Newport Dinner Train or cease operating completely.

The two groups share a single track, with the Old Colony running trains every Sunday and the Newport Dinner Train running Thursday through Saturday and for special events.

The mandate came when, as the state claims, "years of discussions with no meaningful resolutions" forced the state to step in with an agreement. However, after a public outcry and the intervention of city and state officials, the state is easing its demands and a new agreement is in the works.

"People cannot believe that a charity organization would be forced to report to and provide volunteer labor for the benefit of a commercial business," wrote Peter Martin in a thank you letter to the community sent out via e-mail.

heffinger@newportthisweek.net
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