NATCHEZ — The owners of Grenada Railway have decided not to petition for abandonment of the southern part of the railroad.

The owners of the railroad, who also own 66-mle Natchez Railway from Natchez to Brookhaven, filed for abandonment in September.

The Mississippi Transportation Commission and Attorney General’s office hired local lawyer Walter Brown to object to the exemption.

The Surface Transportation Board — the federal agency that regulates railroads — decided in an uncommon decision Oct. 25, Brown said, to side with the MTC and host a public hearing to address the abandonment exemption.

Michael Van Wagenen, the vice president of Grenada Railway and of Natchez Railway, said in a Wednesday press release that although the line segment in question would continue to create a significant loss for the railroad, Grenada Railway has decided that it is in the best interests of both the railway and the state to jointly discuss the matter rather than to resolve it through litigation.

“Mr. Van Wagenen hopes that the various parties who have opposed the abandonment will now use their best efforts to help the railroad secure the necessary funds to rehabilitate and repair the Grenada Railway,” the release said.

The release also said Grenada Railway is committed to be a long-term partner in serving the various shippers and communities in Mississippi.

“To be able to do so, it must have the support of the shippers and the confidence of the various communities,” it said.

The Grenada line was purchased in 2009 from CN, formerly known as Canadian National, at the same time as the Natchez-Brookhaven line.

The Natchez railroad’s future has been a source of worry since CN sold it to a newly formed company, Natchez Railway LLC. The new owners have ties to a railroad salvage company, A&K Railroad Materials.

Van Wagenen has said the Mississippi railroad companies he serves as vice president of have no connection to A & K Railroad Materials.

Van Wagenen also serves as vice president and general counsel for A&K.