by Otto M. Vondrak

Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad will discontinue service between Jamestown, N.Y., and Saegertown, Pa. (located just north of Meadville), effective immediately, according to a report published in the Meadville Tribune this morning. The track will remain in place and will not be abandoned, according to Bob Babcock, president and CEO of parent company Livonia, Avon & Lakeville. Closed by Conrail in 1991, WNY&P first took over operation of the former Erie Railroad main line between Hornell, N.Y., and Corry, Pa., in 2001, extending to Meadville in 2002, and Oil City in 2006. Customers in Meadville and Oil City will continue to be served by WNY&P, but the 70-mile section east to Jamestown simply doesn’t have enough traffic to sustain its continued operation. According to Babcock, that segment of track only generated three carloads last year.

Founded in 1964, Livonia, Avon & Lakeville also operates three other railroads in New York State including Bath & Hammondsport, Ontario Midland, and LA&L.