In a move sure to anger some southern end officials, the Lancaster County Commissioners have asked the federal Surface Transportation Board to delay a ruling on the former Conrail (nee-Pennsylvania Railroad) Atglen & Susquehanna rail line.

The delay could give the county a chance to develop a recreational trail.

Commissioner Molly Henderson said the commissioners filed a petition Wednesday with the federal board.

The board is reviewing an agreement between rail-line owner Norfolk Southern and six southern Lancaster municipalities where the 23-mile rail corridor is located.

"We hope to maintain the corridor -- that is the desired outcome -- and to have continued discussions with the townships," said Henderson. "We're looking forward to the meetings next month and getting public input on the use of this beautiful corridor," she said.

However, the county's action sparked a prompt negative response from Norfolk Southern today.

The railroad company will ask the Surface Transportation Board to dismiss Lancaster County's petition "due to the fact that there is a signed agreement in place affirmed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as well as the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission," said Rudy Husband, a railroad spokesman.

Husband said the railroad intends to turn the 800-plus-acre corridor over to the Solanco municipalities as agreed upon in 1997.

The turnover has been held up by a court ruling that found the railroad's historical aspects had not been documented and efforts made to minimize disturbance to them.

The leader of the pro-trail group FAST called the county action "a good thing."

"We're excited about the county's involvement and support for the concept of a trail," said David Felpel, FAST president. "The filing is the first step in the process," he said.

Joe Chilletti, a Providence Township supervisor, opposed the county action today. He said he was not against a trail on the corridor, but said there were many safety issues that have not been adequately discussed publicly. "It's like they (county) are trying to replace or displace the townships on the ownership of the trail," he said.

The commissioners were planning to send at least one member to Solanco township meetings next month. They may receive a chilly reception.

Some of the township representatives were upset at a meeting with the commissioners in Quarryville last week when they learned the county was considering inserting itself in the long-delayed process.

The county's request for "railbanking" could add at least six months to the federal review. The Surface Transportation Board's ruling, which was expected to conclude soon, would have cleared the way for Norfolk Southern to pass the property to the township where it is located.