Norfolk Southern and short line operator Jaguar Transport Holdings, LLC announced an agreement to improve and expand rail freight service in Atlanta’s northeast metropolitan region.
The deal calls for Jaguar to handle local switching, operate the NS Doraville transload terminal, and invest in targeted infrastructure upgrades to support new freight volumes and first- and last-mile connections for customers.
“This deal is completely focused on freight growth, delivering increased capacity, and providing expanded local service in the important metro Atlanta market,” said Stefan Loeb, vice president of business development and first and final mile market for Atlanta-based NS (NYSE: NSC). “We value Jaguar’s experience in short line and transload operations as well as its proven track record of success. This opportunity continues to demonstrate that short lines and transloaders are a crucial part of Norfolk Southern’s growth strategy.”
NS in a release said Jaguar currently connects with its merger partner, Union Pacific, and that the deal “supports our long-term vision for a proposed end-to-end combination with Union Pacific Railroad (NYSE: UNP). Jaguar is already a short line partner of Union Pacific, supporting eventual operational alignment and a scalable model for local-market growth across a transcontinental network.”
Located near interstates 285 and 85 15 miles from downtown Atlanta, the Doraville rail corridor serves a cluster of businesses in northeast Atlanta. Through local switching and transload access, it serves rail-adjacent customers and regional shippers that depend on truck-to-rail connectivity and frequent, reliable local service.
NS said that the collaboration is expected to generate significant growth at the Doraville transload facility, and among directly served customers by supporting freight growth; enabling new industrial and warehouse development in the corridor; and increasing switching opportunities, transloading capacity, and interchange fluidity.
Jaguar, which operates transload ramps across the U.S., will also make unspecified capital improvements to expand yard capacity and support future growth at Doraville. Jaguar “has a proven track record of generating strong volume growth after assuming local operations,” said NS in a release.
Jaguar is committed … to being a reliable growth partner for Norfolk Southern in Atlanta,” said Tim Enayati, Jaguar Transport senior vice president of commercial development, in a statement.
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