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Yesterday, Patriot Rail Corp. announced it executed a 20-year license and operating agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to provide rail service on the Piedmont and Northern Railway (P&N) in Gaston County.

Patriot Rail will be responsible for operating, maintaining and marketing freight-rail service on a 13-mile P&N line between Mount Holly and Gastonia, and a spur toward Belmont. The P&N interchanges with Norfolk Southern Railway in Gastonia and CSX Transportation in Mount Holly.

NCDOT recently upgraded the western-most four miles of line from Gastonia to Ranlo, and expects to upgrade the remainder in spring 2011.

Patriot Rail plans to launch service on the western-most four miles in the first quarter. The holding company now owns seven short lines operating in nine states.

“[P&N] is in an ideal location for rail freight customers due to the dual Class I interchange and close proximity to a major transportation hub such as Charlotte,” said Patriot Rail Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Marino in a prepared statement.