Seminole Gulf Railway runs first train over Florida river since Hurricane Ian

Seminole Gulf Railway (SGLR) yesterday announced it operated a test train across the Caloosahatchee River into Fort Myers for the first time since Hurricane Ian ravaged southwest Florida 17 months ago.

The storm surge destroyed railroad bridges crossing the river into the city, cutting it off from rail service. The test train traversed the entire span of the river, delivering rail cars trapped in Fort Myers back to the national rail system, SGLR officials said in a press release.

SGLR's road to recovery included diverting its freight traffic to its Sarasota Division, rebuilding the railroad bridge across the Peace River in Arcadia, rebuilding several miles of track, and rebuilding four bridges and track structures across the Caloosahatchee.

"This is an important milestone for southwest Florida.The freight moved over our railroad is essential to the region's economy, and the restoration of rail service will enable that freight to be moved in the most efficient and environmentally sustainable manner," said Robert Fay, SGLR's executive vice president.

SGLR performed all of the rebuilding work at its own expense, using its own financial resources. The short line received no federal, state or local disaster relief aid to rebuild the infrastructure damaged or destroyed by the storm surge.

SGLR officials have been working with U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association to support Donalds' proposed legislation that would provide disaster relief funding for small U.S. railroads.