CSX Intermodal President Jim Hertwig has urged more cooperation between public and private sectors to quickly address emerging trends in global trade and the critical need for expanded transportation and distribution infrastructure.
“Intermodal transportation combines the efficiency of rail with the flexibility of trucks,” said Hertwig. “As our nation faces combined pressures from an increasingly globalized economy and deteriorating transportation infrastructure, it is critical that we work together to bolster this pillar of our national economy. CSX remains committed to investing in our nation’s freight rail and intermodal network.”
In 2009, CSX will begin construction of an intermodal facility at North Baltimore in northwest Ohio. This facility will streamline operations in Chicago and improve overall customer service. Last year, the company opened a new intermodal terminal at Chambersburg, Pa., and continues work to expand facilities in major markets such as Charlotte, N.C.
The new intermodal facility in northwest Ohio is a key element of the National Gateway, a public-private partnership seeking to create a more efficient rail route between Mid-Atlantic ports and the Midwest through use of double-stack trains. By hauling more freight on fewer trains, the National Gateway would reduce congestion on the nation’s crowded highways and improve rail fluidity.
“Customers, policymakers and the public are realizing the environmental and economic benefits of freight rail,” said Lisa Mancini, vice president, strategic infrastructure initiatives for CSX Transportation. “CSX invests heavily in our network and is actively exploring public-private partnerships, such as the National Gateway, that will deliver impressive public benefits in years to come.”
By converting over two billion highway miles to rail, the National Gateway will reduce transportation emissions by an estimated four million tons, save over $2 billion in shipping costs and reduce fuel consumption by nearly 500 million gal.
Both Hertwig and Mancini participated in expert panels at IANA’s (Intermodal Association of North America) Intermodal Expo. The three-day event in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., covers business and efficiency enhancing transportation solutions with a primary focus on intermodal’s role in a balanced transportation future.
