Railroad could be officially abandoned in three months

NORWICH – The county’s top economic development official told lawmakers this week that the New York Susquehanna & Western Railway planned to permanently abandon its right-of-way between Chenango Forks and Sherburne in three months.

Service on that portion of the line from Binghamton to Utica stopped last June after the flood in the region damaged some rail sections. Company representatives have said, however, that abandonment procedures were previously underway due to underutilization of the route.

Economic Development Director Maureen Carpenter said New York State Senators James L. Seward and Thomas Libous met with railroad president Walter Rich late last week. Estimates for the track repairs have ranged from $250,000 to $400,000, and NYS&W Railroad “would be looking for federal and state funds to keep going,” she said.

In a phone call following the Feb. 9 meeting, Senator Libous told Carpenter that Rich’s April deadline was “unrealistic.”