Westmoreland County's century-old rail line to get a makeover

Westmoreland County's century-old railroad is getting a rehab.

Tracks along the freight line that delivers goods up and down the central portion of the county to businesses and industrial parks will be replaced as part of a $3.9 million project recently approved by the county commissioners.

Plans call for the replacement of track, roadbed, bridges and grade crossings along an 18-mile stretch of the line from its start at the Radebaugh subdivision in Hempfield, near Greengate Road, past an industrial park in East Huntingdon and ending near Connellsville.

“The movement of goods and commerce is essential. The railroad provides a more effective means to move goods,” said Jason Rigone, executive director of the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp.

The county earned about $250,000 last year in commissions from about 2,500 rail car deliveries of lumber, paper products, chemicals and sand used in natural gas well fracking.

Rigone estimated that 30 businesses and industrial sites along the freight line route get deliveries by train.

The project will replace what officials believe is the original track laid more than 100 years ago, Rigone said.

The county bought the 33-mile railroad line in 1995 for $400,000 after freight companies that had used the track halted its business through the county. Although the county owns the real estate and track, it leases the freight train service to private operator Carload Express, based in Oakmont, which runs the service as the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad. Company officials could not be reached for comment.

Trains typically use the line about once a day, making deliveries to businesses along the route and to a depot where products are loaded onto trucks.

The county's train line links with major east-west freight lines through central Westmoreland County and to the south near Connellsville.

The rehabilitation will be done through two projects.

More than $1.5 million will be spent to replace eight miles of track starting from just south of Hempfield. It will be paid through a $1.07 million state rail transportation assistance grant and a local match of about $458,000 paid by the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad. Construction could begin this year.

The second phase, expected to cost $2.3 million, will upgrade bridges, the railbed and crossings along the first 18 miles of the system. County officials have applied to receive a state grant that would pay 70 percent of those costs, Rigone said.

“This will make the line safer and more efficient,” he said.

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.