CSX plans improvements in NY/NJ

   CSX said it will make improvements on its River Line between northern New Jersey and the Albany, N.Y. region.
   The railroad said the $26 million project, with plans for additional River Line capacity expansion in future years, will enable CSX to handle more trains and support the growth of crude oil moving by rail, intermodal shipments, automobiles and other businesses.
   A total of 18 miles of second track will be constructed over the next two to three years that will create additional capacity on the Hudson River’s west shore. Preliminary work to prepare the sites in New York state at Ravena-Coxsackie, Catskill and Haverstraw is already complete with construction to begin early this year.
   Clarence Gooden, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, said the River Line is “a key lane for growth and will further contribute to economic development as well as environmental benefits through CSX’s terrific fuel efficiency.”
   CSX said capacity on the River Line was last expanded in 2005.
   “Consistent growth in rail traffic on the line over the last several years, along with growth projections, now warrant additional investment to further increase the corridor’s capacity. The River Line is part of CSX’s premier I-90 corridor that connects Chicago with New York, northern New Jersey, and the Philadelphia areas, and supports some of the network’s highest velocity and volumes – much like when it existed as the centerpiece of the predecessor New York Central System,” the railroad said.
   CSX added it continues to invest in other projects to prepare for near- and long-term growth in the Northeast region, including Philadelphia’s Trenton Line where clearance projects are under way. These projects complement other network capacity improvements including ongoing construction of the National Gateway to clear a route from Mid-Atlantic ports to the Midwest for double-stacked containers.
   The railroad said demand for crude oil in the New Jersey and Philadelphia area may be as much as five trains per day, or over 400,000 barrels, within the next couple of years. – Chris Dupin