Lebanon Train Study Meeting
6:30 p.m., Aug. 5
Lebanon City Hall
50 S. Broadway
513-933-7200
The salvation of Lebanon’s excursion railroad could come through the renewed use of the tracks by freight trains.
That was the conclusion of consultants hired to gauge the costs, benefits and future potential of the Lebanon, Mason & Monroe Railroad, according to Stone Consulting’s research.
“Implementation of any resuscitated freight traffic, or even a commitment of freight traffic, can change the ownership strategy of the railroad, and the underlying financial burden to the City,” Stone Consulting wrote in the conclusion to the 100-page report.
The council has scheduled a public meeting on the Stone study on Aug. 5.
Ownership of the five-mile Lebanon section could be shifted from the city to Genesee & Wyoming- owners of the rest of the rail system heading from AK Steel in Middletown into Mason and Lebanon - or the Warren County Port Authority, according to the report.
“That could be explored,” said Martin Russell, director of the port authority and the county’s economic development office. “A lot of people don’t realize… Ohio has the third largest rail network in the country.”
Train tiff
People in Lebanon have already begun taking sides in the debate over whether to renew the contract with the tourist train operator.
Some members of the city council question the use of as much as $200,000 a year in city funds to maintain the rail system, leading from just south of downtown out of the city.
Last week, Mayor Amy Brewer objected to a meeting called by Councilman Matt Rodriguez with the train operator and downtown business owners in favor of renewing the lease.
The council meeting on the study was delayed due to conflicts with vacation plans by Brewer and other council members.
In past years, Brewer has voted against leases with Collins’ group, terming more than $1 million used to maintain the rail system “ a subsidy” of Collins’ business.
In comments before the meeting, Brewer said she objected to Rodriguez calling a meeting because the full council wouldn’t be discussing the report until the August meeting.
“It’s dividing people,” she said, adding she recognized the train’s positive economic impact.
Rodriguez and Councilman Steve Kaiser gathered with Brian Collins, partners and downtown business owners to organize lobbying efforts in anticipation of the August meeting.
“We have an economic engine. It’s a gold mine,” Rodriguez said, after reading from the Stone study.
In addition to advocating for freight service, Stone urged the city to work with the operator and local businesses to cross-promote the train rides, held for special events, some based on the Thomas the Tank Engine children’s TV show. The consultant also suggested a range of other steps, from removing poison ivy near the station to seeking bids from other operators, to improve the excursion service.
Getting back to freight
But Stone emphasized the value of resuming freight hauling in its report, noting several businesses along the line were interested in starting freight service . The study also proposed the city consider selling the line to end its financial commitment.
In addition to the spur of the Lebanon line heading from AK Steel to Mason, Genesee & Wyoming owns short line and regional freight railroads in the U.S. Canada, Australia, the Netherlands and Belgium. Short lines connect to longer lines crossing the country.
Stone also proposed Lebanon consider working with the Warren County Port Authority, which already helped establish a transload rail facility in Franklin, where businesses can receive rail freight from raw materials to parts to finished products.
Over the past decade, the use of freight service , utilizing short-line systems, such as the one leading from AK Steel toward Lebanon and Mason, has grown, Russell said.
For some companies, the rail freight option reduces costs, traffic and environmental problems related to trucks hauling freight, Russell said. In Lebanon, George Steel and two other companies along the line indicated interest in using it for freight deliveries.
“The complete absence of freight traffic on the railroad, given the geographic location, proximity to the Norfolk Southern main line, existing local shortline service, existing sidings, sites and buildings, and developable property was a surprise to us. Shortline railroads have been formed from scratch with less,” the Stone study said.
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