Press Releases: Month of January 2003
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Public Relations Department
- For immediate release -
January 16, 2003
LSRS Leases Locomotives For New Service: In an effort to further boost the economic conditions in southeastern Ohio, Hocking Valley Railway Co. (HVR) subsidiary Logan Southern Rail System (LSRS) has leased two Electro-Motive Division SD70M's from American Financial & Lease Corporation, Inc. for a five-year renewable term. The locomotives will be used in a new intermodal service between the LSRS terminal at Jackson, Ohio, and the HVR terminal at Columbus, Ohio. The new service, named Ohio TrailerJet, is a cooperative effort between HVR and LSRS to further each carriers' traffic diversification and services to the customers each serves. Trains from various locations across the Hocking Valley system will drop off intermodal cars at Columbus's Parsons Terminal. The cars will then be assembled into the Ohio TrailerJet for delivery to Jackson. Once in Jackson, the TOFC commodities will be unloaded and received by the customers for final delivery. Questions regarding this service may be directed to the TrailerJet Desk within the Customer Relations Department by calling toll-free (800)555-JET1.
Passenger Plans: The Hocking Valley Railway Co. (HVR) has announced plans for passenger trains operating over portions of the HVR rail system. In case of a collapse of Amtrak, the Company is now training staff to handle passenger operations and equipment. The current operating agreement places Amtrak as the designated operator of HVR trains 35/36 and 37/38. Per the agreement, Amtrak supplies all onboard staff and equipment. Should Amtrak fail, the Hocking Valley will utilize excursion equipment, existing locomotives on the roster, and train its own staff to handle operations. "It has been nearly thirty-two years since we've operated scheduled passenger trains, but we're confident that the Company will pull together and do it right," said Zachary Williams, Vice President-Operations. "Should Congress fail to meet Amtrak's needs and [Amtrak] is forced to cease operations, we will take over where they left off. Not much will change, except for the equipment used and the staff to operate it. It will be different actually handling these trains ourselves again, but there's no doubt in my mind that the plan we've got will work," commented Williams.
Trackage Rights Agreement Signed: CSX Transportation (CSXT) and Hocking Valley Railway Co. (HVR) officials met in Columbus, Ohio, on December 13, 2002, to finalize a deal worth $1.5 million. The renewed trackage rights agreement permits an unlimited amount of HVR trains to operate over CSXT between Youngstown, Ohio, and New Castle, Pennsylvania. This plan saves approximately thirty minutes to an hour on transit times between these two points. Without the agreement, trains heading to New Castle would go to Sharon, Pennsylvania, before moving south to New Castle. The agreement is to take effect on January 20, 2003 at 12:01 a.m. and will last for five years. The HVR-owned trackage from Sharon to New Castle will still be left in place in case congestion threatens to alter schedules, but long-term plans call for abandonment of the Sharon-New Castle portion.
Franklin Named Vice President-Finance: Carl J. Franklin was named Vice President-Finance on November 30, 2002 after Clark K. Hatfield announced his December 10th retirement. Franklin joined the Hocking Valley's Financial Department in 1986 as Assistant Office Manager. He holds a bachelor's degree in business and finance from Ohio University, and an associate degree in finance from Hocking Technical College. "I'm confident that Carl will do an excellent job at his new post," said Fred E. Shirley, President and CEO. "He has done exceptionally well within the [Financial] department and his leadership skills will be a great help to this Company."
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