CSX: Mainline in place for Quebec terminal; unit-train facility pegged for Ohio agriculture campus

CSX Corp. last week announced it reached another milestone in the construction of its $100 million intermodal terminal in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec. The Class I has opened the mainline leading directly to the Perron industrial and maritime park in the city.
 
The 1.4-mile mainline will minimize congestion in the residential area. In addition, two new grade crossings now are in operation near the terminal's site, CSX officials said in a press release.

Slated to open next year, the 89-acre terminal will connect the Canadian region with CSX’s network in the United States. The facility will enable shippers in the area to capitalize on the economic and environmental benefits of intermodal rail, expand on the north-south trade opportunities offered by NAFTA and connect to new markets, CSX officials said.

"The opening of the new mainline is just one more step towards the completion of this important project," said Chris Durden, CSX's assistant vice president of terminal and network operations.

Meanwhile, the Heritage Cooperative announced plans to build an agriculture campus and research farm in Marysville, Ohio, that will include a CSX unit-train grain facility.

Scheduled for completion by September 2015, the campus will feature a 30,000-ton dry fertilizer warehouse and a 10,000-ton liquid nitrogen fertilizer storage facility in addition to the express unit-train terminal.

CSX's grain facility will include one of only two loop track facilities in the state of Ohio, Heritage Cooperative officials said in a press release. The 8,600-foot loop track will enable trains to load or unload grain while maintaining rail traffic flow on main tracks, they said.

"The collaboration between CSX and Heritage on this facility is a perfect example of the power of partnership, working closely together through every step of development to leverage the efficiency and reliability of rail service to best meet Heritage’s needs and support growth in the community and the region,” said Tim McNulty, CSX's assistant vice president of industrial and agricultural sales and marketing.