On July 9, Burlington Northern Santa Fe and The Dow Chemical Co. subsidiary Union Carbide Corp. marked the completion of a 7.9-mile line in Calhoun County, Texas, and the railroad's first shipment from Union Carbide's Seadrift, Texas, facility.
Completed in May after 15 months of construction, the line connects the Seadrift plant — formerly served solely by Union Pacific Railroad — with BNSF track near Kamey, Texas.
"This new rail line … is a good example of providing competitive commercial solutions to the marketplace," said Dave Garin, BNSF group vice president, industrial products, in a prepared statement.
The Seadrift plant moves about 60 percent of materials by rail, mostly outbound plastic pellets and industrial chemicals.
"A competitively served facility not only provides commercial alternatives, but also opportunities to improve rail service and safety," said Bill Huff, Dow's global rail operations manager.
Source: Progressive Railroading Daily News
