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FPN-USA Inc. is seeking Surface Transportation Board (STB) approval to operate the Tijuana-Tecate Shortline between San Ysidro and Division, Calif.

The short line would operate a 44.6-mile portion of a line — which predominantly is located in Mexico's Baja California between Tijuana and Tecate — that currently is operated by Carrizo Gorge Railway Inc.

FPN-USA plans to submit a proposal to the Mexican state of Baja California to serve as operator of the state-owned line. Recently, the Carrizo Gorge Railway has been providing service on the Mexican portion of the line "only sporadically," according to FPN-USA's STB filing.

Baja California officials are in the process of canceling Carrizo's operating contract for the Mexican portion and have "invited others, including FPN, to submit bids to operate the line," the filing states. Carrizo Gorge Railway would continue to operate the line between the Mexico/U.S. border in Division and Plaster City, Calif.

FPN-USA also is seeking incidental trackage rights inside the United States between Division and Campo because there is no interchange location in Division, the company said.

The STB has entry jurisdiction over railroads and rail lines that serve two U.S. points but travel through a foreign country.