Joliet Intermodal Terminal part of push to improve Chicago-St Louis corridor

Trains Magazine General Discussion
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As everyone here knows, a new intermodal facility is being constructed at Joliet, IL. This is the impetus for UP to upgrade their St Louis-Joliet corridor as they expect increased freight traffic on this route in coming years. Of course us taxpayers will chip in for improvements too if high-speed rail is seen as viable.

http://www.sj-r.com/high-speed-rail/x393147061/Joliet-center-part-of-statewide-rail-push

The Union Pacific Railroad broke ground this month on the $370 million Joliet Intermodal Terminal, which promises to create 6,900 to 7,400 full-time jobs and an increase in annual freight capacity equivalent to 500,000 cargo-ship-sized containers.

…

The first phase of the Joliet terminal is scheduled to open in the summer of 2010, and Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis said in e-mails the first increase in freight traffic would be from the carrier’s west-coast region.

Increases from there, including on the route through Springfield, will depend heavily on customer demand, said Davis. But he said the company’s projection that up to 22 additional freights a day will come through Springfield is “many years down the road.”

The UP currently operates four freights daily on the Third Street corridor.

“We expect to run three to five more freights south out of the Joliet facility soon after it opens, destined for Texas and Mexico. Depending on growth forecasts and rerouting decisions, there could be as many as eight to 12 additional new trains beyond the initial group over the next

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To me this proves that almost every rail line has value today. Note that I said “almost”.

This GM&O line has been a mystery to me. Why? There just isnt much traffic on it. There are considerably more Amtrakers than freights. Yet UP holds on to it for years…why?

Because of the real estate values in Chicago. UP really needed the Joliet area for expansion. Obviously the ex Chicago and Eastern Illinois line has real estate south of Chicago Heights which would handle a Logistics Park area, but with the BNSF’s location near Joliet, that area has become a hub.

The freight potential plus the high speed possibilities for this line make this an interesting line.

ed

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This location make sense to due to the fact it sits athe JCT of I 55 & I 80 plus it is near I 57 I 355 and I 65 this allows trucks quick access to the highways .

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Also the location was the site of the former Joliet Arsenal which provided cheap land all in one chunk that could be developed.

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Not very many huge parcels like that left in most metropolitan areas.

Joliet will be flush with jobs in the future.

Laporte, In passed on a projected intermodal yard that NS was attempting to develop.

ed

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Plus Joilet is near that new Seneca Port that is being built starting NEXT year also. Hed just got all his ducks in a row also 210 Million in private cash there.