Though the local permitting process for the project seemingly crawls along, officials at CSX Transportation are hopeful that their $100-million plan to expand the company's freight yard behind Union Station will be completed by 2012, the Telegram reports.

Lisa A. Mancini, CSXT 's senior vice president, told those attending the 25th annual meeting of The Research Bureau at the DCU Center that the company's effort to move its main freight operations out of Boston's Allston neighborhood to the firm's rail yard between Shrewsbury and Franklin streets is on target to become operational in two years.

The project, which is under review by local and state authorities, is part of a public-private partnership between the state and CSXT to shuffle the company's freight operations in Massachusetts, so the rail line between the city and Boston can be freed up for more commuter trains. Eventually, it's hoped that the MBTA will be able to provide between 20 and 25 commuter trips daily between the two communities.

Mancini, who has represented CSXT in the long and sometimes contentious negotiations with city and state officials over the project, also said that the company is still interested in negotiating settlements with the owners of properties needed to expand the current freight yard.

CSX initiated eminent domain proceedings to acquire some of the parcels after failing to cut deals with many of the property owners.

The freight yard now measures 28 acres and needs to be expanded to 52 to make the project feasible.

The company has reportedly negotiated purchase and sales agreements for just two properties and may have a possible deal with a third.