Reading & Northern to take over Pennsylvania industrial park's rail line

Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad will assume ownership of rail infrastructure at the Humboldt Industrial Park in Hazleton, Pa., as of Jan. 1, the railroad announced yesterday.

The short line acquired the track in an agreement with CAN DO Inc., the industrial park's owner. In addition to owning and maintaining the 7.5 miles of track, Reading & Northern will provide rail service to all customers in the park.

CAN DO entered into the agreement with Reading & Northern in 2012, with Reading & Northern slated to take ownership of the rail line at the end of 2016. But negotiations between the park's current rail provider, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Reading & Northern, led to an agreement to accelerate the timeline to Jan. 1, 2016, said CAN DO President Kevin O'Donnell in a press release.

Reading & Northern will run a scheduled service, but will provide additional rail switches when business warrants them, said the railroad's owner and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Muller Jr.

The railroad also will offer rail-car storage and personalized service for each business customer, Muller said.

"Each customer will have their own local account representative who can assist them with all their rail needs and any issues that arise," said Wayne Michel, Reading & Northern's president.