Virginia CTB Approves New Rail Spur at Hershey Chocolate Facility

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) announced Jan. 18 that the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) has approved a $450,000 grant through the agency’s Rail Industrial Program to Hershey Chocolate of Virginia Inc. for construction of a new 4,750-foot rail spur to be served by Norfolk Southern (NS) at the snack company’s Augusta County facility.

Aerial view of the San Pedro Bay Port Complex in California. (Photograph Courtesy of Port of Los Angeles)

Intermodal Briefs: Ports of LA, Long Beach; SC Ports

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in California report 2022 as their second-busiest year on record. Also, South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) announces a record 2022 with the most containers ever handled at the Port of Charleston. All provide their outlook for 2023.

Commentary

Crew Call: Luther Yard

Meet some of Norfolk Southern’s crew from Luther Yard in St. Louis, Mo.

Launched by all seven Class I railroads and Railinc in 2014, the AskRail app for first responders now includes railroad milepost and highway/rail grade crossing location information.

Railinc Updates AskRail® First Responder App

Railinc on Jan. 18 reported that it has added railroad milepost and highway/rail grade crossing location information to AskRail®, the rail industry emergency response information app.

ITS Logistics U.S. Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index. (Image Courtesy of ITS Logistics)

Intermodal Briefs: ITS Logistics, South Carolina Ports Authority

Reno, Nev.-based ITS Logistics issues the January forecast for its U.S. Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index. Also, the South Carolina Ports Authority approves $100 million-plus in contracts for its new intermodal facility in North Charleston.

The $47 million Newport News Transportation Center (rendering above) is slated to open in late 2023. Partnering on the project are the city of Newport News, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, and Virginia Department of Transportation.

Virginia Advances Passenger Rail Expansion Plans

Virginia’s New River Valley Passenger Rail Service Extension and Newport News Transportation Center projects will receive a combined $3.2 million in federal funding to move forward, the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) reported on Jan. 17.

Railway Age’s 2023 ‘Fast Trackers’ 25 Under 40 Honorees

Railway Age is pleased to announce the 25 “Fast Trackers” selected for this year’s 25 Under 40 awards program.

The team at CSX Memphis Intermodal Terminal (pictured) recently achieved 14 years without an Occupational Safety and Health Administration-recordable injury.

Class I Briefs: CSX, UP, NS

The CSX Memphis Intermodal team marks a safety milestone. Also, Union Pacific (UP), CSX and Norfolk Southern (NS) have been included in JUST Capital’s “America’s Most JUST Companies” list for 2023.

Six fully electric cranes are now operational at NS's Austell, Ga.

Class I Briefs: NS, BNSF

Fully electric cranes are operational at Norfolk Southern’s (NS) Austell, Ga. intermodal facility. Also, following a series of significant winter weather-related service challenges across much of the Northern Corridor, BNSF reported that the railroad’s overall velocity in the week ending Jan. 3 improved versus the week between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays and was slightly higher than the average for December.

NS has been named C.H. Robinson's 2022 Railroad of the Year for its "teamwork, integrity, transparency and a vision for growth."

C.H. Robinson Names NS 2022 Railroad of the Year

Intermodal solutions provider C.H. Robinson has named Norfolk Southern (NS) its 2022 Railroad of the Year, recognizing the Class I at its 26th annual Carrier Appreciation Party for its “teamwork, integrity, transparency and a vision for growth,” NS recently announced.

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