Indiana Rail Road to mark openings of new locomotive facility, intermodal terminal

The Indiana Rail Road Co. (INRD) on Friday plans to provide public tours of its new $7.6 million Locomotive Maintenance Facility (LMF) near Jasonville, Ind.

The open house will take place after the 500-mile regional conducts a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility, which replaces a cramped, 100-year-old engine house. The LMF is equipped with state-of-the-art environmental controls, an ergonomically friendly and climate-controlled working environment for the railroad's mechanical team, and an on-site parts warehouse, INRD officials said in a press release.

Located at Hiawatha Yard, the LMF is the operational hub of INRD's system located 70 miles southwest of Indianapolis and 25 miles southeast of Terre Haute.

"We couldn't open this wonderful facility without also saying 'thank you' to the citizens of Greene County and surrounding area," said INRD President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Hoback. "We have made a lot of investments in and around Hiawatha Yard in recent years, and local residents have shown a lot of patience and support as the landscape has changed."

INRD also plans to hold a dedication ceremony Oct. 10 for the new Indianapolis Intermodal Terminal and the inauguration of a new direct, all-rail intermodal service with CN between Indianapolis and Asian markets.

The event will be held at INRD's Senate Avenue Terminal in Indy and include remarks from Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.

CN and INRD earlier this year forged an agreement to build an intermodal terminal in Indianapolis and jointly offer Indiana importers and exporters an all-rail option for moving containerized products to and from Asia. Through the new joint service, containerized import goods will flow in about 18 to 20 days from port loadings in Shanghai and Qingdao, China, and Busan, Korea, to INRD's Senate Avenue Terminal, CN officials estimate.