Port Clinton-based Reading & Northern Railroad set a new record with its passenger services in 2017. Almost 120,000 people rode on Reading & Northern and Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway passenger services, a 15% increase from 2016’s record-breaking year when Reading & Northern broke the 100,000-passenger mark for the second time running.
In a development that harks back to the region’s mining roots, Reading & Northern Railroad said it will operate anthracite unit coal trains as part of a major shipment destined for Ukraine.
Reading & Northern Railroad has named William Clark as Senior Vice President Coal, where he will be responsible for managing the anthracite coal business, as well as the railroad’s freight car fleet of more than 1,200 cars. His appointment is effective March 1.
At the close of 2016, regional railroad Reading & Northern (R&N) “had more employees, more track, more locomotives, more freight cars, more facilities and more customers than at any point in its history.”
Despite a soft market for anthracite coal, Reading & Northern reported on November 4 that its freight traffic has grown over its record-setting 2015 base: Merchandise traffic (non-coal) is up almost 15%. Its passenger excursion business, which saw a record 100,000 visitors in 2015, is also running 15% ahead of last year’s pace.
On August 12, 2016, Northumberland County (Pennsylvania) President Judge Charles Saylor ruled that one claim in Reading & Northern’s multi-claim lawsuit against the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA) could go forward. Other allegations were dismissed.
To celebrate its acquisition, Reading & Northern Railroad (R&N) welcomed over sixty guests on a passenger train trip through the Humboldt Industrial Park on Tuesday, July 26, 2016.
Reading and Northern Railroad has promoted three veteran employees to Vice President positions at the company.
Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad (RBMN) announced it acquired the 5.5 mile Locust Valley Line effective June 8, 2016.
The construction of a modern railway bridge across the Lehigh River to create a connection between two divisions of Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad (RBMN) has been assured with the announcement of a second $5 million grant by the Pennsylvania State Transportation Commission.