NORFOLK SOUTHERN OPENS PENNSYLVANIA INTERMODAL HUB

NORFOLK SOUTHERN OPENS PENNSYLVANIA INTERMODAL HUB    Norfolk Southern Corp. has opened a $31-million intermodal hub in Rutherford, Pa.
   The hub offers redesigned and improved services for customers using the mid-Atlantic ports of Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York/New Jersey and Norfolk, NS said. The new terminal will also reduce congestion in Chicago as NS and interline partners hub traffic at Rutherford. In addition new north-south services will be launched later this summer.
   NS said the new hub has already allowed the railroad to reduce transit times and improve performance in key lanes.
   The terminal differs from other intermodal terminals in that it transfers containers between trains as well as between road and rail, said Michael R. McClellan, vice president of intermodal marketing.
   “For intermodal traffic moving between the East and western connections, we can now conduct 'steel wheel' interchanges at Rutherford rather than the usual 'rubber-tire' interchanges at Chicago. This will be a considerable operational benefit and it is expected to reduce truck traffic through Chicago,” McClellan said.