Railroads Support Ohio Hub Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2005
CONTACT: Stu Nicholson
614-644-0513
Major Railroads Support Ohio Hub Plan
"Best New Year's Present Ohio Could Get" says ORDC's Seney
(Columbus) - If a passenger rail plan can get a Hollywood movie-style
review, the Ohio Hub Plan just got "Two thumbs way up" from two major
partners in the plan.
"ORDC is to be commended for its work and vision in undertaking this
ambitious initiative" - John M. Gibson / VP of Operations Research &
Planning, CSX Transportation
"... a good start. It outlines a bold approach to implementing regional
passenger service..." - Bill Schafer / Director of Corporate Affairs,
Norfolk Southern Corporation
"This news is the best New Year's present Ohio could get", says ORDC
Executive Director Jim Seney. "To have two of the nation's premier
freight railroads make these statements is a powerful answer to those
who ask 'do the railroads support the Ohio Hub Plan?' But this support
didn't come without laying a solid foundation in the planning process.
The railroads have been a part of planning the Ohio Hub from the very
start and they have helped make it one the strongest, most innovative
regional rail plans in the nation."
Seney says the two letters of support from NS and CSX doesn't mean there
aren't still details to be worked out. "After all," says Seney "this is
a little like building a swimming pool in your next door neighbor's back
yard and inviting the rest of the neighbors to swim in it. You'd better
talk to your neighbor in advance and make sure not only if they're okay
with your plan for their property, but that there is a significant and
positive benefit in it for them."
In both letters, the two railroads, which are also the dominant freight
railroads that serve Ohio, say details need to be worked out as to route
alignments, infrastructure needs (bridge, tunnel, track and signal
improvements) and the potential impact of having 6 to 8 high speed
passenger trains a day operating in the freight railroad-owned corridors.
"The potential benefit for the freight railroads is a major reason we
were able to bring them to the planning table in the first place", says
ORDC"s Seney. "They have basically told us that running passenger
trains on their corridors can be done, as long as there is no
interference with their freight trains."
In fact, says Seney, the Ohio Hub Plan calls for reducing or eliminating
many of Ohio's railroad "bottlenecks" in or near the large urban areas
and upgrading tracks, bridges and signals so both passenger and freight
rail traffic can move faster and in greater numbers than they are now
able to do. "This is absolutely necessary if we are to grow Ohio's
economy. The end result of the Ohio Hub Plan must be positive for all
parties involved, because increasing the ability to move more people and
freight makes our state a stronger competitor for new business and jobs,
and brings prosperity with it", says Seney.
(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/ )
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2005
CONTACT: Stu Nicholson
614-644-0513
Major Railroads Support Ohio Hub Plan
"Best New Year's Present Ohio Could Get" says ORDC's Seney
(Columbus) - If a passenger rail plan can get a Hollywood movie-style
review, the Ohio Hub Plan just got "Two thumbs way up" from two major
partners in the plan.
"ORDC is to be commended for its work and vision in undertaking this
ambitious initiative" - John M. Gibson / VP of Operations Research &
Planning, CSX Transportation
"... a good start. It outlines a bold approach to implementing regional
passenger service..." - Bill Schafer / Director of Corporate Affairs,
Norfolk Southern Corporation
"This news is the best New Year's present Ohio could get", says ORDC
Executive Director Jim Seney. "To have two of the nation's premier
freight railroads make these statements is a powerful answer to those
who ask 'do the railroads support the Ohio Hub Plan?' But this support
didn't come without laying a solid foundation in the planning process.
The railroads have been a part of planning the Ohio Hub from the very
start and they have helped make it one the strongest, most innovative
regional rail plans in the nation."
Seney says the two letters of support from NS and CSX doesn't mean there
aren't still details to be worked out. "After all," says Seney "this is
a little like building a swimming pool in your next door neighbor's back
yard and inviting the rest of the neighbors to swim in it. You'd better
talk to your neighbor in advance and make sure not only if they're okay
with your plan for their property, but that there is a significant and
positive benefit in it for them."
In both letters, the two railroads, which are also the dominant freight
railroads that serve Ohio, say details need to be worked out as to route
alignments, infrastructure needs (bridge, tunnel, track and signal
improvements) and the potential impact of having 6 to 8 high speed
passenger trains a day operating in the freight railroad-owned corridors.
"The potential benefit for the freight railroads is a major reason we
were able to bring them to the planning table in the first place", says
ORDC"s Seney. "They have basically told us that running passenger
trains on their corridors can be done, as long as there is no
interference with their freight trains."
In fact, says Seney, the Ohio Hub Plan calls for reducing or eliminating
many of Ohio's railroad "bottlenecks" in or near the large urban areas
and upgrading tracks, bridges and signals so both passenger and freight
rail traffic can move faster and in greater numbers than they are now
able to do. "This is absolutely necessary if we are to grow Ohio's
economy. The end result of the Ohio Hub Plan must be positive for all
parties involved, because increasing the ability to move more people and
freight makes our state a stronger competitor for new business and jobs,
and brings prosperity with it", says Seney.
(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/ )
