by Transportation minister Geoff MacLellan says three highly anticipated studies examining the future viability of the rail line in Cape Breton will be released on Friday.
The announcement comes after the railway committee he put together met yesterday.
The reports were due to be released last month but were delayed after committee members raised some questions about them and waited for answers from their authors.
MacLellan says the release of the reports will give the public the information to prompt more discussion about what should be done next.
He adds releasing the reports does not commit the province to further action or possible financial support for the railway.
The studies examine shipping by rail as opposed to truck, the amount of money it would take to upgrade the rail line, and the economic opportunities the rail service provides.
Current owner Genesee and Wyoming stopped running trains on the money-losing Point Tupper to Sydney line last December.
However, it can’t apply to tear up the track until April under a law passed by the province last fall.