The Panhandle Rail Line runs from Pittsburgh to Columbus, with part of that line running through Licking, Muskingum, Coshocton and Tuscarawas counties.

The Rail Development Commission is looking to sell the line to Ohio Central Railroad in Coshocton. A value won't be determined until an independent appraisal.

Van Epps is proposing the rail line shouldn't be sold to a private company, but rather opened for access to all companies, similar to the freedom of interstate highways.

He says this would be a better option economically and wants the rail commission to fund a study to look at this as an option.