NS to open Heartland Corridor next week

NS to open Heartland Corridor next week    Norfolk Southern Corp. said it plans to open the Heartland Corridor next week after completing a three-year project to upgrade its rail route between Hampton Roads, Va., and Chicago by modifying 28 tunnels and other facilities to accommodate double-stack containers.
   Set to open Sept. 9, the new gateway will eliminate about 250 route miles and a day or more of transit time from current train schedules. The first phase of the tunnel work began in October 2007.
   Double-stack trains must take longer routes by way of Harrisburg, Pa., or Knoxville, Tenn. The Heartland Corridor goes across Virginia, through southern West Virginia and north through Columbus, Ohio.
   The railroad said efficiency gains from major infrastructure improvement projects, such as the Heartland and Crescent corridors are part of plans it has to lower greenhouse gas emissions per revenue ton-mile 10 percent by 2014, compared with 2009 emissions.
   The Crescent Corridor program improves infrastructure and other facilities geared toward creating a high-capacity, 2,500-mile intermodal route spanning from Louisiana to New Jersey.
   Blair Wimbush, vice president real estate and corporate sustainability officer, said Norfolk Southern’s emissions reduction strategy also focuses on ways to achieve better fuel economy, including purchase of new, more fuel-efficient locomotives; continued deployment of idle-reduction and train handling technologies; and refined engine maintenance practices.
   Further efforts will address direct and indirect emissions from energy used for heating, cooling and lighting buildings and other facilities on the railroad. Nearing completion is a systemwide lighting upgrade that is reducing electricity consumption, and the company continues to adjust its non-rail vehicle fleet to save fuel and emissions. ' Chris Dupin