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9/8/2021
The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) resumed service to the New Orleans Gateway on Sept. 2, four days after Hurricane Ida made landfall.
No major damage to operational assets occurred, even though hurricane force-winds caused power outages at the railroad’s administrative buildings and yards, and flooding occurred at NOPB properties.
In the aftermath of the storm, employees inspected track, removed obstacles and made necessary repairs to switching and other equipment, NOPB officials said in a press release.
"The team outdid themselves in their response to this storm," said Mike Stolzman, NOPB's general manager. "Our sole focus was to support the supply chain with quick resumption of rail service within the New Orleans Gateway for the benefit of our six Class I partners and local customers."
In addition to federal, state and local partners — including the Port of New Orleans — Watco's Louisiana Southern Railroad assisted recovery efforts with deliveries of both palletized water and 400 gallons of gasoline.
The NOPB is a Class III switching railroad with the primary mission of serving the Port of New Orleans and local industries.