Recently, Norfolk Southern completed a new intermodal terminal in Columbus, Ohio. The railroad is also currently working on clearance projects on the old N&W between Columbus and Norfolk, VA as part of their Heartland Corridor Project. With all of this going on as well as the growing traffic from the southeast via Cincinnati, do you think that a better route for these trains would be first resurrecting the former Pennsylvania Panhandle main between the same two Ohio cities and LaCrosse, IN via Logansort, North Judson,etc and then take the old C&O between LaCrosse, Thomaston, and LaPorte instead of the current routes they travel? Just like your thoughts on the subject.
This route would be faster, but would be crazy expensive. Good idea though.
I can understand that. You have to take into account the land being bought back, but I think that it would help bring many jobs to Indiana and help areas that have seem to be forgotten because of the loss of railroads such as Logansport, North Judson, Winamac, etc. Why else do you think it would be expensive? By the way, thanks for your opinions.
One reason it would be so expensive is if they got all of the pre existing ROW bought back there, right off the bat is about a million dollars in today’s money. Second of all If they are going to be shipping hot shot intermodal trains over this line they will most likely be using an advanced signaling system. I would imagine that they would install PTC so the wouldn’t have to go in an re do it in order to meet the 2014 delaine. (Not sure if that is the right deadline for all lines being PTC’d or not) That would cost millions, and just the re-structurisation of the roadbed would be an immense cost. Then you have to take in to account the crossing gates, and lights etc.
But on a positive note, it potentially could bring back thousands of jobs to northwestern Indiana, just like you said.
Justin