IAIS Closing Cargo Ramp

[blhanel]

Just spotted this story on the local TV station website…

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/41681812.html

NEWTON (AP) - Iowa Interstate Railroad officials have blamed the economy for the closing of a Newton cargo ramp that local businesses relied on for shipping.

The company says in a letter to Newton officials that business began to drop off in 2005, and fell dramatically when the Maytag washer and dryer factory closed in 2007.

Local business owners say they were caught off-guard by the news, and say they’re now scrambling to find alternate shipping methods.

The closest cargo ramps to Newton are in Council Bluffs and Chicago.

Company officials have said they will close the ramp on May 1. Local business owners are lobbying the company to extend that deadline.

[Anonymous]

I guess I’d be interested in knowing what the costs were to IAIS for operating the ramp? Of course there’d be insurance, MOW, etc., etc. Does anyone know what type of operation was conducted there? Did IAIS have to staff the facility? Was it just a team-track and the customers performed the loading/unloading?

Maybe IAIS sees a better offer for the real estate the ramp occupies?

[beaulieu]

Small Intermodal operation owned by the IAIS. Closing it means they can sell the piggypacker, and layoff the workers.