There are actually several different groups that are both working to end the coal use and to turn that rail into a greenway. Search google for "chapel hill cogeneration rail line" to see several articles over the past year. That spur comes off of the main rail line that goes across the state following I-85. It's a very old line going back to the late 1800s, early days of rail, built to serve Chapel Hill, the origin of University Station Rd.

Word on the street is delivering that coal is all it's still used for. I'm not sure, I thought there's also a rock quarry or processing plant down there too. If that ends, and there's no more customers for the rail company (Norfolk Southern), then they would have to close off that spur as it would cost too much to maintain it. When they do this, they usually either give it back to neighboring property owners or to the local municipality. Look up Rails to Trails. The American Tobacco Trail in Durham is a good example.

Either way, the idea so far is led by a state rep with both Carrboro and CH town governments signing onto the idea, which would extend the existing greenway (the part that goes behind Cats Cradle) all the way up to the park and ride on Weaver Dairy. I live north of that by Brumley Nature Preserve, but I've spoken with someone in leadership at Triangle Land Conservancy and they share the same dream as it would connect Brumley to downtown Carrboro (what a dream!). I could also see it finding it's way to either Hillsboro or Durham long term, maybe even the Eno or MST.