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West Virginia’s first rail-truck intermodal facility opens for business
Do you mean “reach stacker” vehicles?
Norfolk Southern paid $1 million, and the taxpayers paid $30 million for this facility. Another fine example of corporate welfare.
Mr. Nichols: When the taxpayer provides (and maintains) the railroad’s competition with a paved conduit to any loading dock in the nation I see no problem whatsoever with funding such projects. Ask Schnieder, J.B. Hunt and Averitt Express about “corporate welfare.” They benefit greatly from it.
Yes, Jim, not to mention the air travel & freight businesses that benefit from airport infrastructure, air traffic control, etc. Plus the railroads have to pay property taxes on their trackage, as well as all expenses for track and grade crossing maintenance. Compare federal budget allocations for rail and mass transit compared to highways, and how the highway lobbyists go apoplectic when someone proposes spending a little more on non-highway projects.
If governments want to give the railroads a break when it comes to this kind of investment, then I consider that as a leveling of the playing field. Freight rail infrastructure improvements benefit all of us in many ways, so in my opinion it’s one of the few areas where tax dollars are well spent.
If Harrison & company get NS how will this affect small intermodal terminals like this?
Norfolk Southern intermodal units is up 8%? Some of the information on blogs regarding CP’s offer suggests that it is down. Or is that year to date 2015 vs. 2014?
This investment is great news for the beautiful Tri-State area and its people
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In the top photo, that coaling tower astride the main line, so near a modern intermodal facility, makes for a great lesson in the evolution of railroad technology over the decades. Given the recent downturn in Appalachian coal, this facility should be a bright spot for NS and the West Virginia economy.
West Virginia needs new industries. Who had chestnut growers years ago?
American Chestnut was economically important to what area?
The Paw Paw fruit was grown on Monticello.
Does West Virginia University need passenger service?
This fis the future for NS. They should divert as much boxcar traffic to container as well , to make smaller intermodal terminals viable , and speed up both traffics.