South Dakota rail panel authorizes sale of Sioux Valley Line

The South Dakota State Railroad Board yesterday authorized the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) to finalize a purchase agreement with the Dakota and Iowa Railroad (D&I) to acquire the state-owned Sioux Valley Line.

The Sioux Valley Line is located between Canton and Elk Point with a spur to Beresford. The D&I is a subsidiary of L.G. Everist Inc., SDDOT officials said in a press release.

Final action on the sale will be made at a board meeting before year's end.

"D&I Railroad, the current operator of this line, has a proven track record of providing excellent service to their shippers and we have no doubt this same service will continue. The sale will also place the line back in private ownership where additional opportunities exist for further development — a key to supporting the state's economy," said State Railroad Board Chairman Jerry Cope.

Last year, the board decided all state-owned rail lines should be sold. In addition to Sioux Valley, those lines are the Mitchell to Rapid City Line, the Britton Line, the Napa Platte Line, Yale Line and the Wolsey interchange.

Also yesterday, the board authorized the sale of numerous leased properties along the state-owned Mitchell-to-Rapid City Line. The remaining line for the board to act on is the Napa to Platte Line, SDDOT officials said.

"These properties have been held by the state for many years and the board's recent action will allow current lease holders to own the rights to these properties and use them in a manner that best serves the communities and our state," said SDDOT Deputy Secretary Joel Jundt.