NEWS - Ports & Transportation

SBJ Staff Report

Jan 9, 2012 - Customers across manufacturing, consumer goods, energy and other markets committed to 124 new or expanded facilities on CSX and its short line railroad partners in 2011, driving job growth and other economic benefits in 17 states, according to a report by the company that was released last week.

The new or expanded facilities represent nearly $1.4 billion in customer investment, with a significant portion set to occur in the South, including in Georgia.

"Despite ongoing economic uncertainty during 2011, our customers continue to demonstrate strong interest in rail service and CSX in particular," said Clark Robertson, Assistant Vice President-Regional Development. "It is testimony to the underlying value proposition that rail offers."

The facilities will be built or expanded on CSX lines and on some of the more than 240 short lines and regional railroads that connect to CSX. Ultimately, these facilities will contribute more than $230 million in annual revenue to CSX, Robertson said. 

For many customers, railroad fuel efficiency is an important factor when it comes to choosing transportation, and CSX trains are capable of moving a ton of freight nearly 500 miles on a gallon of fuel, they state.  “That means significantly lower carbon emissions than trucks. Another factor is connectivity to marine ports, and CSX reaches more than 70 ocean, lake and river ports.”

CSX also offers its certified Select Site program to manufacturing firms seeking new plant locations along CSX's network, as well as track design and logistics expertise. The company's TRANSFLO transload services offer a way for non-rail served shippers to connect to the North American rail network.

Below is a list of the states in which new or expanded facilities will be built in 2012, the jobs expected, and the investments made by customers:

State                Jobs Created               Customer Investment

Alabama          115                              $8,220,000

Florida             180                              $165,586,000

Georgia           157                              $69,550,000

Illinois             0                                  $3,750,000

Indiana            27                                $73,000,000

Massachusetts 17                                $3,281,000

Maryland         100                              $600,000

Michigan         242                              $70,150,000

North Carolina  348                            $385,220,000

New Jersey      27                                $2,804,100

New York       63                                $9,540,000

Ohio                258                              $43,900,000

Pennsylvania   5                                  $822,000

South Carolina   152                           $30,300,000

Tennessee        5                                  $1,000,000

Virginia           8                                  $2,000,000

West Virginia  77                                $515,000,000

CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation's leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states and the District of Columbia.