Passenger Trains > Amtrak Planned Station: Lyons NY

Info courtesy of Steven Aroesty:
--------------------------------

Train stop in Lyons is nearer reality
By Bennett J. Loudon

(Rochester, NY) Democrat and Chronicle

LYONS (Friday, May 25, 2001) -- Plans for a passenger
train stop in Lyons are chugging along nicely.

Amtrak, which would operate the service, and CSX, the
company that owns the tracks and the property where a
station would be built, have agreed on the site for
the station.

The 85-mile stretch between Rochester and Syracuse is
the longest span without a stop between New York City
and Buffalo. Trains last stopped in Lyons in the
1960s. Trains last stopped in Newark, about six miles
to the west, in 1967.

The agreement was spurred by a meeting between U.S.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Amtrak President and
CEO George Warrington, who promised that Amtrak would
work with CSX and local officials to develop a plan
and would provide the service.

"It's very significant. It cements the location of the
station. From here on there will be no confusion about
where it's sited," said Wayne County Planning Director
Sharon Lilla.

The station is to be built on the south side of the
railroad yard with access from Franklin Street.

"Even though we had chosen this location, we didn't
know this area would be acceptable to both CSX and
Amtrak," Lilla said.

State Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, Seneca County,
has secured $1 million in state funding for the
project.

"We won't know if this is enough money until the
railroads sign off on the design and they have the
final say ... I certainly hope it's enough," Lilla
said.

"We're certainly hopeful that a million dollars will
go a long way toward building an adequate station to
serve the central Finger Lakes," Nozzolio said.

Nozzolio is confident the public announcement in
October of a $1 million commitment helped push CSX and
Amtrak to agree to the project.

Lilla is hoping to have the station under construction
some time next year.

"But I'm the eternal optimist. I think 18 months would
be something reasonable to shoot for," she said.

The next step is for Wayne County officials to solicit
design proposals.

Local officials have been trying to get a passenger
train stop in Lyons for at least 10 years. The efforts
were stalled when Conrail, which used to own the
tracks where the station is to be located, insisted on
conditions that were too expensive.

The new owner, CSX, has promised not to make similar
demands, Schumer's office said.

"Senator Schumer deserves great praise for his efforts
in making this a reality ... He specifically helped us
to get CSX to understand that CSX is important to our
region. He achieved the final objective," Nozzolio
said.

Thanks for the post! I hope it all works out so i'll have a station opening to go to!