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OHIO RAIL

DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

50 W. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215

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http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ohiorail/

Contact: Stu Nicholson

(614)644-0513  

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                              

Date: September 24, 2004                                                                            

 

 

Selling Panhandle Won’t Be A Sellout

ORDC Director Speaks to OMEGA Meeting

 

(Cambridge) – The on-going discussions concerning the possible purchase of the state-owned Panhandle Line between Columbus and the Ohio River (Mingo Junction) by the Ohio Central Railroad does not mean the state intends to gives up its rights to ensure the 160 mile railroad line serves the best interests of communities and shippers along those rails.  That’s the message ORDC Executive Director James Seney carried to a September 22nd meeting of the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association (OMEGA).

 

“ORDC will not allow the Panhandle Line to fall back into a state of neglect”, Seney told the gathering.  “The Panhandle Line can provide another key connection between Ohio and key Eastern seaports in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Norfolk. If we decide to proceed with the proposed sale of the line, we will take steps to make sure that both freight and passenger rail interests are maintained.”

 

Seney says selling the line would allow ORDC to use the proceeds to do the kind of positive rehabilitation on other railroad lines around Ohio that was done for the Panhandle Line back in the early 1990's.  “ That purchase not only partnered us with an excellent rail carrier in the Ohio Central Railroad, but this partnership and rehabilitation project has resulted in major economic growth and increased freight traffic all along the line”, said Seney.  The line was in danger of being cut up and abandoned by the former Conrail in the early 1990's, when ORDC stepped in, along with the Ohio Central and community leaders, to purchase the line.

 

Seney explained that ORDC would likely not sell the line unless it could guarantee certain rights were maintained as a condition of the sale.  This includes:

 

•                     Access to the Panhandle Line for other railroads delivering unit trains of commodities, such as grain for a proposed alcohol fuels plant near Coshocton

•                     Rights to run passenger rail service in the future, such as high speed service linking Columbus with Pittsburgh

•                     The right to mediate between shippers and the railroad to make sure freight rates are kept reasonable and economic development continues

•                     The right to take back the rail line in the event of a bankruptcy or other event that would pose a threat to its future

 

ORDC has not made a final decision on the sale, although an appraisal of the rail line has been completed.  Public involvement meetings will be held to obtain feedback from shippers and communities along the Panhandle Line. OMEGA Executive Director Don Myers offered to arrange gathering involved community leaders for a single hearing in Cambridge at a future date.

 

 

(The Ohio Rail Development Commission is an independent agency operating within the Ohio Department of Transportation.  ORDC is responsible for economic development through the improvement and expansion of passenger and freight rail service, railroad grade crossing safety and rail travel & tourism issues. For more information about what ORDC does for Ohio, visit our website at http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ohiorail/ )