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CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NEWS RELEASE
2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546
NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546 |
| FOR RELEASE: November 8, 2018 |
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062
FAX: (860) 594-3065
WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot |
Railroad Maintenance Activity to Resume on the Wethersfield Secondary Branch of the P&W Railroad in the Towns of Wethersfield, Rocky Hill and Cromwell
The CTDOT is announcing that railroad maintenance activities will be taking place on the Wethersfield Secondary Branch of the Providence and Worcester Railroad (P&W). The work includes vegetation management and removal, as well as the replacement of roughly 7,500 railroad ties in the towns of Wethersfield, Rocky Hill and Cromwell. The work activity is necessary to maintain the rail property and track structure to required Federal Railroad Administration standards.
The public can expect railroad tie replacement activities to commence starting November 8th, and take place between the hours of 7 AM and 5 PM . The work will at all times remain within the state-owned right of way, and will last until approximately November 21st . Discarded railroad ties may be temporarily left within the right of way for final disposal as soon as reasonably possible.
The Wethersfield Secondary Branch is owned by the State of Connecticut and is leased to the P&W, which is responsible for all right of way and associated track maintenance activities. While there has been virtually no operational rail activity on the branch in decades, the P&W is currently developing business opportunities which may include new usage of the Wethersfield Secondary Branch.
The Wethersfield Secondary Branch includes a total of 22 public and private at-grade crossings and abuts numerous neighborhoods and private properties. With new freight rail activity expected in the near future, the CTDOT and Operation Lifesaver – an organization instrumental in promoting safety along railroads - will reach out to towns and local communities to raise awareness and to promote safety of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians at track crossings, as well as to reinforce the importance of never trespassing on railroad tracks/railroad right of way.
Although no freight trains currently use the tracks, P&W spokesperson Michael Williams cautions against complacency. “The public should assume that all railroad tracks are active,” Williams says. “Always obey signs and warning devices at railroad crossings, cross only in designated crossings and never walk along, recreate or play on or near railroad tracks – it is extraordinarily dangerous and illegal whether or not trains are running. In addition, the P&W does not have set schedules, but instead operates as dictated by customers’ changing needs, so a train may come from either direction, at any time.”
The Wethersfield Secondary Branch is owned by the State of Connecticut and is leased to the P&W, which is responsible for all right of way and associated track maintenance activities. While there has been virtually no operational rail activity on the branch in decades, the P&W is currently developing business opportunities which may include new usage of the Wethersfield Secondary Branch.
The Wethersfield Secondary Branch includes a total of 22 public and private at-grade crossings and abuts numerous neighborhoods and private properties. With new freight rail activity expected in the near future, the CTDOT and Operation Lifesaver – an organization instrumental in promoting safety along railroads - will reach out to towns and local communities to raise awareness and to promote safety of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians at track crossings, as well as to reinforce the importance of never trespassing on railroad tracks/railroad right of way.
Although no freight trains currently use the tracks, P&W spokesperson Michael Williams cautions against complacency. “The public should assume that all railroad tracks are active,” Williams says. “Always obey signs and warning devices at railroad crossings, cross only in designated crossings and never walk along, recreate or play on or near railroad tracks – it is extraordinarily dangerous and illegal whether or not trains are running. In addition, the P&W does not have set schedules, but instead operates as dictated by customers’ changing needs, so a train may come from either direction, at any time.”