WORCESTER COUNTY–A feasibility study will be conducted to determine the viability of a family friendly excursion train from Berlin to Newark and Snow Hill.
A contract was expected to be signed Wednesday with the consultant who will perform the study.
“It’s great news,” Worcester County Economic Development Director Bill Badger told the Berlin Town Council on Monday. “It’s actually a consultant that Strasburg [Railroad] recommended to us.”
Strasburg Railroad and Maryland Delaware Railroad are interested in partnering to provide a local Strasburg Railroad franchise in the county.
Badger and representatives of Maryland Delaware Railroad had spent a day in early April with the director of operations for Strasburg Railroad. The director said he was interested in the Worcester County project.
Strasburg Railroad is known for its family-oriented attraction and it has replica of Thomas the Tank train and The Polar Express, Badger said. Passengers may be served food and alcohol aboard several train cars.
The $20,000 cost of the first phase of the feasibility study is being shared by Worcester County Economic Development, Berlin, Snow Hill and Maryland Delaware Railroad. Strasburg Railroad would contribute funds for the study’s second phase. Berlin’s share will come from the budget for Community and Economic Development Director Michael Day.
The study will determine if a market exists for the excursion railroad, how many people might use it, would it be worth deploying capital and what kind of business revenue might be available, Badger told the council.
Badger also said he hopes the study’s first and second phases would be completed by the end of this year.
Mayor Gee Williams was enthusiastic about the possible of a Strasburg Railroad in the county.
“The excursion train would be so unique,” Williams said. “It’s not something that would be replicated for a couple hundred miles.”
When Badger discussed the railroad with the county commissioners in May, Commissioners Virgil Shockley and Judy Boggs said they had ridden on the railroad in Pennsylvania. Both said they hope it comes to Worcester County.
Bud Church, president of the county commissioners, is also on board with the proposal.
“If we are able to work out all the details I think it would be a great attraction for the county,” Church said Tuesday. “I am very much in favor of trying to make this work. I have visited other areas that provide this service and it was a big hit. Especially for the towns of Berlin and Snow Hill. Count me in. I will be the first in line.”
During the 1990s, Worcester County had a train car attraction. Vintage train cars traveled between Berlin and Snow Hill occasionally for several years until they stopped because of liability concerns.
A contract was expected to be signed Wednesday with the consultant who will perform the study.
“It’s great news,” Worcester County Economic Development Director Bill Badger told the Berlin Town Council on Monday. “It’s actually a consultant that Strasburg [Railroad] recommended to us.”
Strasburg Railroad and Maryland Delaware Railroad are interested in partnering to provide a local Strasburg Railroad franchise in the county.
Badger and representatives of Maryland Delaware Railroad had spent a day in early April with the director of operations for Strasburg Railroad. The director said he was interested in the Worcester County project.
Strasburg Railroad is known for its family-oriented attraction and it has replica of Thomas the Tank train and The Polar Express, Badger said. Passengers may be served food and alcohol aboard several train cars.
The $20,000 cost of the first phase of the feasibility study is being shared by Worcester County Economic Development, Berlin, Snow Hill and Maryland Delaware Railroad. Strasburg Railroad would contribute funds for the study’s second phase. Berlin’s share will come from the budget for Community and Economic Development Director Michael Day.
The study will determine if a market exists for the excursion railroad, how many people might use it, would it be worth deploying capital and what kind of business revenue might be available, Badger told the council.
Badger also said he hopes the study’s first and second phases would be completed by the end of this year.
Mayor Gee Williams was enthusiastic about the possible of a Strasburg Railroad in the county.
“The excursion train would be so unique,” Williams said. “It’s not something that would be replicated for a couple hundred miles.”
When Badger discussed the railroad with the county commissioners in May, Commissioners Virgil Shockley and Judy Boggs said they had ridden on the railroad in Pennsylvania. Both said they hope it comes to Worcester County.
Bud Church, president of the county commissioners, is also on board with the proposal.
“If we are able to work out all the details I think it would be a great attraction for the county,” Church said Tuesday. “I am very much in favor of trying to make this work. I have visited other areas that provide this service and it was a big hit. Especially for the towns of Berlin and Snow Hill. Count me in. I will be the first in line.”
During the 1990s, Worcester County had a train car attraction. Vintage train cars traveled between Berlin and Snow Hill occasionally for several years until they stopped because of liability concerns.