ALBANY – With Chenango County running out of time to preserve a rail line that stretches between Binghamton and Utica and transform it into an engine fueling regional tourism and economic development, today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the rail’s current owner to give the county more time to formulate and submit a bid to acquire ownership. New York Susquehanna & Western Railway (NYS&W), has already taken the first step towards abandoning the line by initiated the process with the United States Department of Transportation's Surface Transportation Board. Without intervention, this plan will eventually terminate the rail line as a functional route and leave county leaders without the necessary time to submit their own plan to maintain the rail’s functionality as an alternative to the congestion-plagued Route 12.
Senator Schumer has personally called on the rail line’s owner to delay submitting its application for termination for up to a year. This delay will give the county the necessary time to assess and create a business plan to obtain the property and possibly the rail line.
 “This railway could be a boon to both tourism and economic development across Chenango County, and local leaders will be missing a golden opportunity if they aren’t given the necessary time to properly formulate a plan to acquire it,” said Senator Schumer. “Today I’m calling on the railway’s current owner to hit the brakes when it comes to terminating the railway, giving local residents a fair chance to turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse.”
 NYS&W’s Utica line is a short rail line connecting Binghamton with Utica and runs concurrent to Rt. 12. In June, 2006, flooding damaged a stretch of the track north of Norwich, causing an estimated $450,000 in damage, rendering half the line inoperable. Thus far the rail company has expressed little interest in funding.  
NYS&W recently filed a System Diagram Map with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) which is the first step in abandoning a railroad. This is the start of a six-step process to official terminate the line as a route.
 However, Chenango County leaders are now considering different options directed at keeping the line operational and available as a means for commercial transportation. Other plans currently under consideration include raising $450,000 for repairing the damaged track and using the rail for scenic train rides during the day and transporting cargo at night. Another option being considered is transforming the bed of the train route into a trail site for tourists.
But, if NYS&W proceeds with the abandonment process, local leaders will not have adequate time to prepare their proposal. Under STB regulations, NYS&W has two years from the time it submitted the System Diagram Map before it needs to submit a Notice of Intent, the next step in the abandonment process.
Today Senator Schumer sent a letter to the current railway’s owner, Walter Rich, urging him to delay submitting an application for termination so the county has the necessary time to submit their own business plan to purchase the rail.  
Schumer stressed that preserving the rail line is a vital component for attracting new businesses to the region. The presence of rail in a rural area is a crucial bargaining tool when a business is deciding where to locate.