PUBLIC LAW 97-35—AUG. 13, 1981
95 STAT. 679
the normal exercise of seniority rights, but does not include any employee who refuses an offer of employment with a railroad acquiring properties under this subsection.". (b) Section 305(d) of the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 (45 U.S.C. 745(d)) is amended by striking out paragraph (7). (c) Section 305 of the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 (45 U.S.C. 745), as amended by this section, is further amended by adding after subsection (f) the following new subsection: "(g)(1) Within 20 days after the effective date of the Northeast Rail Service Act of 1981, the Secretary shall initiate discussions and Ante, p. 643. negotiations for the expedited transfer of all properties and freight service obligations of the Corporation with respect to the following lines: Canaan, Connecticut, to Pittsfield, Massachusetts; North Adams Junction, Massachusetts, to North Adams, Massachusetts; Hazardville, Connecticut, to Springfield, Massachusetts; Westfield, Massachusetts, to Easthampton, Massachusetts; Westfield, Meissachusetts, to Holyoke, Massachusetts. "(2) Within 120 days after the effective date of the Northeast Rail Service Act of 1981, the Secretary shall transfer, provided a qualified purchaser offers to purchase, the Corporation's properties and freight service obligations described in paragraph (1) of this subsection to another railroad or railroads in the Region which are determined by the Secretary to be qualified. A qualified purchaser is defined as a railroad financially self-sustaining which guarantees continuous service for at least four years. "(3) The Secretary shall determine a fair and equitable price for the rail properties to be transferred under this subsection, and shall, unless the parties otherwise agree, establish divisions of joint rates for through routes over such properties which are fair and equitable to the parties. "(4) The Secretary shall determine fair and equitable terms for the provision of such trackage rights, on segments of the Corporation's lines not to exceed 5 miles per line transferred, to acquiring carriers as may be necessary to operate such transferred lines in an efficient manner.". ABANDONMENTS
SEC. 1156. (a) Title III of the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section: "ABANDONMENTS
"SEC. 308. (a) GENERAL.—The Corporation may, in accordance with 45 USC 748. this section, file with the Commission an application for a certificate of abandonment for any line which is part of the system of the Corporation. Any such application shall be governed by this section and shall not, except as specifically provided in this section, be subject to the provisions of chapter 109 of title 49, United States Code. "(b) APPLICATIONS FOR ABANDONMENT.—Any application for abandonment that is filed by the Corporation under this section before December 1, 1981, shall be granted by the Commission within 90 days after the date such application is filed unless, within such 90-day period, an offer of financial assistance is made in accordance with subsection (d) of this section with respect to the line to be abandoned. "(c) NOTICE OF INSUFFICIENT REVENUES.—(1) The Corporation may, prior to November 1, 1983, file with the Commission a notice of insufficient revenues for any line which is part of the system of the Corporation.
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