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Breakthrough?

Reason for optimism that Trillium Railway is on the comeback trail.

Things are looking up for saving Trillium Railway, and potentially hundreds of jobs that rely on it.

The east-west railway that runs through St. Thomas, Tillsonburg and into Norfolk County was shut down in December due to the high cost of needed bridge repairs.

On Saturday, Mayors with the SCOR group, met with local MP's with the railway issue at the top of the agenda.

Tillsonburg Mayor John Lessif feels the federal politicians will get behind the issue.  "Absolutely.  There's no question at all.  They've listened, they've been proactive in finding a resolution to it, and they're optimistic this will get resolved to everyone's satisfaction."

Lessif says the solution could include federal infrastructure money that was announced in last week's budget.  "Yes it is possible, but we're not quite at that stage.  We want to know that CN is willing to sell that to a potential buyer.  But the infrastructure funding does identify short line railways as a funding mechanism."

Lessif tells Heart FM there are currently talks underway with a potential buyer for the rail line.  "We've been told that it's one buyer in particular.  I can't divulge who that individual is at this time, but there are serious discussions going forward."

The closure of the rail line is impacting several businesses in Elgin and Norfolk Counties, along with six businesses in Tillsonburg.

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