NYS&W announces intent to discontinue rail service
CHENANGO COUNTY – The New York Susquehanna & Western Railway announced its intention to discontinue rail service through Chenango County in a legal notice late last week.
The notice announced that the Cooperstown-based railroad intends to file for an exemption with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board which will relieve them of their obligation to provide service along the line.
According to NYS&W media spokesperson Melanie Boyer, the legal notice is just a formality.
“This is not an abandonment procedure,” said Boyer. “This is a legal requirement for a line not in service.”
The track in question, a 41.02 mile stretch from Chenango Forks to Sherburne, has been out of service since it was damaged by heavy flooding in June 2006.
According to Boyer, the NYS&W believes that the filing will help them “cover their bases” while the Chenango County Area Corporation conducts a feasibility study on the line. “This gives everyone time to look at all the options without doing anything drastic,” said Boyer.
“This doesn’t change the status of what is happening with the track. It is still out of service,” stressed Boyer.
The notice came as a surprise to Maureen Carpenter, executive director of the Chenango County Area Corporation, who has been working with the NYS&W on the feasibility study. The CCAC had no advance knowledge of the railroad’s intention to file the notice.
“This announcement was very disappointing, particularly because we felt we had the railroad’s cooperation and support as we work on the development of the Railroad Feasibility Study,” said Carpenter.
Some of the CCAC’s concerns were assuaged in a phone conversation between Carpenter and NYS&W President Nathan Fenno on Tuesday. “I was relieved to learn the filing does not give them the authority to remove any portion of the track,” said Carpenter. “He reassured me that the discontinuance will not affect future project costs or our ability to explore other options.”
The CCAC plans on continuing the study, which is focused on evaluating the viability of a number of different options for the rail corridor. The study is funded in part by the Chenango County Planning and Economic Development Committee and the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency.
“It is strongly felt that the railroad must be maintained,” stated Carpenter, “It is an integral part of Chenango County’s infrastructure whether used for recreational use, trail systems or for freight.”
The notice announced that the Cooperstown-based railroad intends to file for an exemption with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board which will relieve them of their obligation to provide service along the line.
According to NYS&W media spokesperson Melanie Boyer, the legal notice is just a formality.
“This is not an abandonment procedure,” said Boyer. “This is a legal requirement for a line not in service.”
The track in question, a 41.02 mile stretch from Chenango Forks to Sherburne, has been out of service since it was damaged by heavy flooding in June 2006.
According to Boyer, the NYS&W believes that the filing will help them “cover their bases” while the Chenango County Area Corporation conducts a feasibility study on the line. “This gives everyone time to look at all the options without doing anything drastic,” said Boyer.
“This doesn’t change the status of what is happening with the track. It is still out of service,” stressed Boyer.
The notice came as a surprise to Maureen Carpenter, executive director of the Chenango County Area Corporation, who has been working with the NYS&W on the feasibility study. The CCAC had no advance knowledge of the railroad’s intention to file the notice.
“This announcement was very disappointing, particularly because we felt we had the railroad’s cooperation and support as we work on the development of the Railroad Feasibility Study,” said Carpenter.
Some of the CCAC’s concerns were assuaged in a phone conversation between Carpenter and NYS&W President Nathan Fenno on Tuesday. “I was relieved to learn the filing does not give them the authority to remove any portion of the track,” said Carpenter. “He reassured me that the discontinuance will not affect future project costs or our ability to explore other options.”
The CCAC plans on continuing the study, which is focused on evaluating the viability of a number of different options for the rail corridor. The study is funded in part by the Chenango County Planning and Economic Development Committee and the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency.
“It is strongly felt that the railroad must be maintained,” stated Carpenter, “It is an integral part of Chenango County’s infrastructure whether used for recreational use, trail systems or for freight.”
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