Santa Fe Accused of Blocking Commuter Line

Efforts to obtain rights to a key, one-mile segment of railroad track in Claremont have stumbled, threatening the construction timetable of a commuter rail line between Los Angeles and San Bernardino County, regional rail authorities said Tuesday.

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority is seeking permission from Santa Fe Railroad for use of the rail segment, part of a 57-mile line between Los Angeles and San Bernardino County proposed for completion by October, 1992.

But Santa Fe Railroad has refused to give the rail authority permission to use the segment, which crosses Southern Pacific track owned by the rail authority.

San Bernardino County Supervisor Larry Walker, the rail authority’s co-chairman, denounced Santa Fe for what he described as the railroad’s refusal to grant rights to operate over the one-mile segment of track near the Los Angeles-San Bernardino county line.

“This one mile is an important link to completing service between San Bernardino and Los Angeles,” Walker said. “Once again, Santa Fe is attempting to hijack the commuter rail system in Southern California.”

But Santa Fe spokesman Mike Martin characterized the charges as “posturing” in difficult negotiations over the purchase of 242 miles of Santa Fe track for commuter train service lines in Southern California.

He said that all the railroad has sought from the start of negotiations is a “fair price” for its stockholders and employees.

The sides are about a half billion dollars apart on the entire 242-mile line, with the rail authority offering $300 million and Santa Fe asking about $800 million, said Neil Peterson, executive director of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, whose agency has been selected to acquire the railroad rights of way for the rail authority’s five-county commuter system.