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Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) recently helped secure $950,000 in the FY2009 omnibus appropriations bill to help repair a Salem County, N.J., owned rail line.

The 18-mile line runs from Swedesboro to Salem Port. The line is used to move raw materials to manufacturing plants, such as Mannington Mills and the Anchor Glass Container Corp., and transport produce to the port. The Salem County Short Line is operated by Salem County Transit.

The line repairs are needed because trains are limited to 5 mph on certain sections of track and distributors of heavily demanded goods, such as lumber and limestone, refuse to use the line due to frequent derailments, the senators said in a prepared statement.

“Communities and local businesses depend on this railroad and we need to continue to do all we can to help it prosper,” said Lautenberg. “These funds are an important step in repairing the rail line to help it operate more efficiently.”