Video: New rail service considered for Eastside

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EVERETT, Wash. - Snohomish County has signed onto a plan for commuter rail service between Snohomish and Bellevue.

Tom Payne and his company, GNP Railway, hope to spend as much as $150 million to $200 million to rehabilitate railroad tracks, build five stations and a 12-foot-wide trail and buy engines and passenger cars.

Payne hopes that by 2013, six morning trains and six evening trains will be running at half-hour intervals and carrying 10,000 riders a day. The trains would use tracks now owned by Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

By comparison, Sound Transit currently has 9,300 riders on commuter trains linking Seattle with Tacoma and Everett.

GNP Railway sees this as a huge opportunity given the current state of affairs.

"With gas prices going up and with tolls going on the 520 and perhaps I-90 bridge, that its going to be really expensive to operate a vehicle on the eastside," said Doug Engle, spokesperson.

But whether the tracks are even available for future service is another question. They're part of a complicated deal with the Port of Seattle which is currently under federal regulatory review.

But GNP believes if the transfer gets the green light and the Port is willing to listen, it could start service as early as 2009.

Peter Camp, the county's executive director and an adviser to County Executive Aaron Reardon, says the county is not putting any money into the deal.

Sound Transit says it is also studying the corridor to see if it could provide or partner on service in the area.