Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Announces Intent to Discontinue Operations of Huron Central Railway
June 15 2009 - 4:02PM
PR Newswire (US)
GREENWICH, Conn., June 15, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Genesee
& Wyoming Inc. (GWI) (NYSE:GWR) today announced that its
subsidiary Huron Central Railway Inc. (HCRY) intends to discontinue
operations. The downturn in the economy has caused the Huron
Central's traffic to decline substantially over the last 12 months,
to the point that the railroad is not economically viable to
operate for the long term. GWI expects to record charges in the
second quarter of up to approximately $5.3 million after tax, or
$0.15 per share, reflecting the non-cash write-down of non-current
assets of approximately $7.1 million and cash costs associated with
the cessation of HCRY operations ranging from $0.4 million to $1.9
million, which GWI expects to be partially offset by cash tax
benefits of approximately $3.7 million. In the year ended December
31, 2008, HCRY handled approximately 16,000 carloads, generated
revenues of $7.4 million and incurred a $2.1 million operating
loss, thereby reducing GWI's diluted earnings per share by
approximately $0.04. HCRY has operated the 173-mile railroad from
Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, under a lease agreement with
Canadian Pacific Railway since 1997. The companies are working
closely together and with customers to effect an orderly cessation
of operations. HCRY will cease operations between McKerrow and
Sault Ste. Marie on August 15, 2009. It will continue operation of
the eastern segment of the railroad from Sudbury to McKerrow and
Espanola until October 31, 2009. The closure will ultimately
eliminate 45 jobs at HCRY. GWI owns and operates short line and
regional freight railroads in the United States, Canada, Australia
and the Netherlands and owns a minority interest in a railroad in
Bolivia. Operations currently include 63 railroads organized in
nine regions, with more than 6,800 miles of owned and leased track
and approximately 3,100 additional miles under track access
arrangements. GWI provides rail service at 16 ports in North
America and Europe and performs contract coal loading and railcar
switching for industrial customers. For more information, contact
Michael Williams, Director of Corporate Communications, Genesee
& Wyoming, 203-629-3722. "Safe Harbor" Statement under the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in
this press release regarding Genesee & Wyoming's business which
are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that
involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and
uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from
those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk
Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most
recently ended fiscal year. DATASOURCE: Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
CONTACT: Michael Williams, Director of Corporate Communications,
Genesee & Wyoming, +1-203-629-3722 Web Site:
http://www.gwrr.com/
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