The Luzerne County-owned rail line that intersects Market Street in Wilkes-Barre.
Times Leader File Photo
Three entities submitted offers for Luzerne County’s rail line, and a “committee of blue-ribbon panelists” has been formed to evaluate the proposals, according to a county press release.
Friday was the deadline for proposals, and the three entities have not yet been identified.
The county administration said details of proposals won’t be publicly released until there is an award.
The following citizens will serve on the committee, it said: James Brogna, the senior vice president of Allied Services and a Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Board member; Thomas Benz, the Crestwood School District business manager and a former financial executive with Verizon Wireless and Endurance International; Kyle Rozitski, Pittston Township administrator; Thomas Sokola, county deputy controller and a retired Geisinger Health System financial executive; and Jeff Weisenberger, a Wright Township supervisor.
The county Redevelopment Authority owns the line, and the authority-affiliated Rail Corp. maintains a lease agreement with a rail operator.
Both entities entered into a litigation settlement agreement with the county that includes the sale of the line. County Council initiated the litigation against the authority and Rail Corp. in July 2025 over an outstanding $3.28 million loan the county had provided for the rail acquisition.
Under the settlement, the county will have the right to reject any bid for any reason.
Unless all responses are rejected, the purchase award will be issued within 15 days of the submission deadline.
The administration said the 15-day deadline is Sept. 14, which means the committee must issue a recommendation by that date.
The Redevelopment Authority is set to hold its monthly meeting the following day.
Closing must occur by Oct. 9.
According to the request for proposals, approximately 27 miles of the roughly 56 miles of track are actively in use for train operations. The request is structured to allow separate offers to acquire inactive sections that could be used for recreational trails in the future.
Sale proceeds must first be used to pay off the authority’s outstanding loans to the county and cover county legal fees and costs associated with preparing the request for proposals and carrying out the sale. If any proceeds remain after those payments, the county, authority, and Rail Corp. would receive percentages based on a formula.
The request requires continued, uninterrupted operation of the rail line and service to all customers and shippers.
Evidence of interest in the line occurred last year, when Reading & Northern Railroad Chairman and CEO Andy M. Muller Jr. made an unsolicited $10 million offer to purchase the county line in October 2025. Muller said at the time he would increase freight service and introduce recreational passenger train excursions from Wilkes-Barre to Pittston, with the option to continue to Jim Thorpe.
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Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.