NORWICH – A legal notice published in last Friday’s paper that informed the public of New York Susquehanna & Western Railway’s pending abandonment of its Chenango Forks to Sherburne route was merely a formality, a spokesperson for the company said Monday.

Railroad industry regulations require properties to examine their routes and report underutilized sections on a routine basis, NYS&W Public Relations Manager Nathan Fenno said. Plans were underway to publish the map prior to the June 26 floods that severely damaged several areas along the route and caused it to be shut down.

The route has been traditionally underutilized, Fenno said.

“We are supposed to update this map periodically. We are required to look into a crystal ball and say what may happen.”