advertisement

---

On Dec. 30, the Paducah & Louisville Railway Inc. (PAL) plans to start up the Evansville Western Railway Inc. (EVWR), a new short line that will operate CSX Transportation’s 124.5-mile line between Evansville, Ind., and Okawville, Ill., according to the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s newsletter.

Earlier this year, PAL reached an agreement with CSXT to lease the line — which includes the Class I’s Mt. Vernon Branch — for 20 years and form a short line to operate the segment. The Surface Transportation Board approved the deal, which includes a five-year extension option.

Four Rivers Transportation Inc., the holding company parent of PAL, will own and control both EVWR and the 265-mile regional.

EVWR will move 55,000 to 60,000 carloads a year, said PAL President and Chief Executive Officer Tony Reck in the newsletter. The Evansville-to-Okawville route was attractive because PAL is trying to expand and the traffic base is similar to the regional’s, he said.

“A lot of bigger roads are going to this idea of letting the small guy do the short haul,” said Reck. “We can give better local service than the Class Is [and] customize service to meet shippers’ needs.”