Works with Commonwealth on Project
Jacksonville, Florida - January 24, 2013 - CSX Corporation's railroad subsidiary, CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), working in concert with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has opened New England's first double-stack cleared intermodal route on its rail line between the New York state line and the newly-expanded intermodal terminal in Worcester, Mass., benefitting businesses and consumers in central New England by reducing transit times on key lanes by as much as 24 hours.
The project involved increasing vertical clearances at 31 locations between Worcester and New York State to 21 feet, enabling intermodal trains to operate with containers stacked two-high. The project connects with the double-stack cleared rail network at the New York state line, giving the region the ability to link with double-stack intermodal service throughout the country. Previously, double-stack intermodal trains coming to New England from the Midwest or from Western origins had to stop in Syracuse, NY, to be converted from double-stack to single-stack configurations. The reverse occurred on Westbound routes from New England, adding time, cost and complexity to these freight flows.
The result is faster, more efficient, more reliable, more economical and environmentally friendly freight rail service to and from the region.
The project was part of a larger agreement with the Commonwealth that enabled Massachusetts to acquire CSXT's rail lines in the Boston area to increase commuter rail service. In conjunction with that project, the intermodal terminal in Worcester was expanded, creating a world-class intermodal container transfer facility with excellent proximity to New England's highways, distribution centers and the consumption market, and solidifying CSX's strength in the region.
"This is an excellent example of how the public and private sector can work together on projects that benefit the public, strengthen the economy, and enable highway to rail freight conversion to reduce strain on public infrastructure and serve supply chains seamlessly," said Clarence W. Gooden, CSX's executive vice president and chief commercial officer.
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CSX Plans New Intermodal Facility in Quebec
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - January 25, 2013 - CSX Corporation (CSX) and its transportation and intermodal terminals subsidiaries today announced an expansion of the company's intermodal presence in the greater Montreal region and Quebec. CSX's intermodal terminals subsidiary will build a new 36-hectare (89-acre) intermodal rail terminal in the City of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield in Quebec, connecting the region with CSX Transportation's (CSXT) 34,000 kilometer (21,000-mile) rail network in the United States.
Michael J. Ward, CSX's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, made the announcement today in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield at a press conference with Quebec's Transport Minister Sylvain Gaudreault and Salaberry-de-Valleyfield Mayor Denis Lapointe.
The new $100 million project will enable shippers in the region to capitalize on the economic and environmental benefits of intermodal rail, expand on the north-south trade opportunities offered by NAFTA, and connect to new markets. The project is expected to create about 600 jobs during construction and lead to the creation of more than 300 permanent jobs when completed. Construction is expected to start in the spring of 2013 and the terminal is expected to open in 2015.
"We believe this new terminal will provide immediate and long-term benefits to Quebec and to Salaberry-de-Valleyfield," said Mr. Ward. "The terminal will provide an anchor for the development of new business, helping boost the economy and create jobs while helping the environment and reducing congestion on the highways."
Trains serving the terminal will connect through the Northwest Ohio intermodal hub, offering quick and efficient access to markets across the United States.
Located in the Perron Industrial Park, the terminal will be close to the newly-completed Autoroute 30, providing easy access to the greater Montreal distribution and consumption market. As part of the project, the province of Quebec and Salaberry-de-Valleyfield will make improvements to the road network in the immediate vicinity of the terminal. The Quebec Ministry of Transportation will also support the project through a $6 million grant for the reduction of greenhouse emissions.
The terminal is expected to handle up to 100,000 containers per year, using modern, rubber-tire gantry cranes to transfer containers between trains and trucks.
In response to community planning needs, CSXT will also relocate a portion of its main line in residential areas of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield to a location south of Autoroute 530 alongside the new terminal in the industrial park. CSX is proud of its 125-year history in Quebec, dating to the St. Lawrence and Adirondack Railway Company.
The project is subject to regulatory approval from the Canadian Transportation Agency.
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About CSX Corporation
Based in Jacksonville, Fla., CSX Corporation along with its subsidiaries is one of the nation's leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces. The rail network of its subsidiary, CSX Transportation, connects more than 240 short line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river, and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com. Like us on Facebook ((http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).