NS opens bulk transfer facility in Virginia; GM opens KCSM spur in Mexico

Norfolk Southern Corp. on Friday announced it opened a Thoroughbred Bulk Transfer (TBT) terminal in Chesapeake, Va.

Located less than three miles from downtown Norfolk, Va., the 40-acre facility offers access to Interstates 264 and 464, and several yards on NS' mainline. The terminal is designed to handle dry and liquid bulk food-grade commodities, such as flour, sugar, grains, plastic pellets, aggregates, sand and cement.

Featuring 104 car spots and a certified truck scale, the TBT will be operated under license by RSI Leasing Inc., NS officials said in a press release. The facility is "strategically positioned" for Hampton Roads-served markets and overseas markets due to its close proximity to nearby container terminals, they said.

The Class I now owns a network of 32 TBT facilities in 17 states. The facilities enable customers without rail sidings to transfer a large array of commodities between rail cars and trucks, NS officials said.

Meanwhile, General Motors de Mexico in late January opened a rail spur at its San Luis Potosi, Mexico, plant, that provides direct access to a Kansas City Southern de México S.A. de C.V. (KCSM) mainline.

The spur will facilitate the movement of 45,000-plus vehicles per year, including the Chevrolet Aveo, which is GM's best-selling car in Mexico, according to an item posted on the "KCS News" web page.

"With this connection, the San Luis Potosi GM plant has direct access to KCSM and through the larger KCS network, is only one interchange away from every major market in North America,” said Kanas City Southern Vice President of Sales-Automotive Kelley Anderson in the news item.

The connection will help Mexico continue to grow as one of the world's largest automobile exporters, said KCSM President and Executive Representative Jose Zozaya.

"We are confident that this new rail infrastructure will be important to the momentum of the automotive industry and for Mexico's economic growth," he said.