NS consolidates Ohio coal operations

Class I U.S. railway Norfolk Southern will consolidate the operations of two of its coal docks, both of which are located in northern Ohio on Lake Erie.    Norfolk Southern will idle its Ashtabula, Ohio coal pier and consolidate operations at its Sandusky, Ohio dock to streamline operations for customers, improve network efficiency and reduce operational costs, the railway said.
   Both coal docks are located in northern Ohio on Lake Erie.
   The Ashtabula coal pier will remain operational until all coal inventories have been transloaded. Norfolk Southern projects this will take place by May 2016.
   “The facility primarily serves the thermal coal market, transloading coal from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia to Canada and U.S. destinations by ship,” Norfolk Southern said.
   A total of 21 positions will be affected by the consolidation.
   The railway has owned and operated the Ashtabula coal pier, which the Jacksonville, Fla.-based railway CSX also has the rights to use, since 1999.
   Norfolk Southern operates 2,200 miles of track throughout Ohio and approximately 20,000 route miles throughout its entire rail network, which encompasses 22 states and the District of Columbia.