Norfolk Southern train
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the Crescent Corridor Intermodal Freight Program $105 million in federal stimulus money.
The states of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee filed a joint application last year for a $300 million grant to improve Norfolk Southern’s freight rail lines between the Gulf Coast and the Northeast.
“This was an extremely competitive process, and we are grateful that the economic opportunities and environmental benefits of our Crescent Corridor initiative have been recognized,“ Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman said in a statement.
Although the grant is about a third of the money sought, Norfolk Southern said the money will allow it to begin construction on some Crescent Corridor projects, while it seeks public-private partnerships for others.
The Crescent Corridor is a 2,500-mile rail network that stretches from Louisiana and New Jersey and runs through 13 states.
The overall project, which will cost an estimated $2.5 billion, will include a number of projects to allow the railroad to handle more freight faster and more reliably, removing an estimated 1.3 million trucks from the interstates each year. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2020.
Current projects include new intermodal facilities in Tennessee, Alabama, and Pennsylvania and additional rail capacity in Virginia and Mississippi.
Looks good on the surface but what about those guys that load and drive those 1.8 million trucks a year. I guess these jobs are expendable.Or maybe this won’t really eliminate the trucks. Kind of like methanol being the answer to a fuel shortage. That worked real well!But I guess its beter than pouring money into a high speed rail project that will run from nowhere in Florida to nowhere else in Florida.
--Nick Fiorillo of Arkansas
Feb. 18, 2010 at 01:00 PM
THE TRUCKERS WILL MAKE SHORTER ROUTES AND GO WHERE THE TRAINS CAN’T GO . THEY WILL LEAVE THE URBAN CITIES MOSTLY. QUIT COMPLAINING ABOUT EVERTHING THAT DON;T BENFIT YOURSELF THINK OF OTHERS SOMETIME IN YOUR LIFE. HELP OTHERS AND YOU WILL BE HELPED..
--Clarence of Memphis
Feb. 20, 2010 at 11:27 AM
$105 million dollars of federal money to a private enterprise to expand and develop a private enterprise….remember the banking, auto and insurance investments by the federal government?
Can we expect “Gov-Rail” operating railroads next?
Does anyone on Washington recall the original intent of the Frderal Government?
My employer could use a cash inflow to upgrade our equipment in order to better serve our customers….think the government will give us any money?
Jack Watts of Boones Mill, VA
Feb. 22, 2010 at 05:45 PM
This stinks of another union bail out. This is just another way for the bumma administration to give away our tax dollars to his chosen few.
--roger3107 of Nashville TN.
Feb. 22, 2010 at 05:59 PM
Truck drivers along the corridor won’t lose their jobs. They will just have shorter hauls, and more time at home. Railroads are a good indicator of our economic status. If railroads are doing good, the country is doing good. Railroad freight car loads are starting to increase, which is a good sign. This project has plenty of benefits for communities along the route. For areas where terminals will be built, jobs can be created as businesses who choose to ship by rail will sprout up near the facilities. The Virginia Inland Port in Front Royal, VA is a perfect example of how well these facilities can function in and with rural communities. Also, not to mention a freight train can carry a ton of freight over 400 miles on just one gallon of fuel. Imagine the fuel savings. Billions of gallons a year could be saved. Somehow, someway this can benefit everybody.
--Kevin of VA
Mar. 19, 2010 at 12:53 PM
This project has plenty of benefits for communities along the route. For areas where terminals will be built, jobs can be created as businesses who choose to ship by rail will sprout up near the facilities.
--Ocean Freight
Jul. 10, 2010 at 07:39 AM
We have the same situation in the UK. Companies are ellecting to use rail over trucks which is all very good. Except trains cannot deliver to your door!.
--hgv training of UK
Jul. 12, 2010 at 07:42 AM
It was great to actually see some bipartisan support for this bill. Who we have to thank:
Rebublican Senators: Shelby & Sessions-AL, Chambliss & Isakson-GA, Cochran & Wicker-MS, Burr-NC, Alexander & Corker-TN
Democrat Senators: Carper & Kaufman-DE, Hagan-NC, Casey & Specter-PA, Webb & Warner-VA
will we continue to see more of this after the November elections?
--ge mwf of Norfolk
Sep. 28, 2010 at 02:37 PM
I think this will be great for everyone, even the truckers, we can’t run trains downtown Atlanta, so the truckers will have to run the routes also, 28 new trains are predicted, each train carries on avg 200 containers, so do the math that’s a lot of new trucker jobs alone, not to include the workers that the railroad will have to hire to operate the trains, build the terminals, and upgrade the tracks.
--loco eng #1 Hunt of atlanta
Nov. 28, 2010 at 12:13 PM