North Carolina Department of Transportation Nearing Completion of Rail Corridor Improvement Program

---

Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). In 2000, the North Carolina Department of Transportation Rail Division began working, in conjunction with North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) (Raleigh, North Carolina), Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) (NYSE:NSC) (Norfolk, Virginia), and CSX Transportation (NYSE:CSX) (Jacksonville, Florida), to determine what improvements were necessary for the 317-mile state-owned rail corridor that links Charlotte, Greenville, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Plans were developed to spend an estimated $77 million on several improvement projects over the course of a five-year period. These projects were geared to improve the speed of the rail corridor, as well as safety concerns and improving congestion and emission issues.

Now, as 2005 winds down, the majority of this work has either been completed, under construction, or will begin construction shortly. Some of the projects involved in this mammoth undertaking included siding extensions, crossing improvements, switch additions, new track, replacement of track, realignment of rail curves, installation of new traffic control and communication systems, the rebuilding of junctions and the construction of new second main track and passing sidings to improve railroad capacity.

NCRR is responsible for the oversight on the entire series of projects, with the NCDOT providing the design and engineering services, as well as paying the tab with state transportation funds, while the NS is responsible for the final plans and the actual construction.

The final two projects associated with this effort are anticipated to begin construction in 2006. The first is a $6 million upgrade of the Haw River rail line. This project will involve the construction of 10,000 feet of new track to be used as a passing siding, as well as the straightening of four curves along the rail line. This project is expected to be complete by late 2008.

The second project is a $12 million upgrade of the Thomasville rail line. This project involves the construction of five miles of second mainline track, along with the necessary communications and signalization systems to improve rail service between Thomasville, North Carolina and Lexington, North Carolina. This project is expected to be complete by late 2009.

As these final two projects near construction and the balance of the work that was already underway nears completion, all of the entities involved will do more detailed evaluations of the benefits of the work. To date, travel times between Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina have been reduced by 30 minutes, and the overall efficiency and safety of both freight and passenger rail along the entire corridor has been vastly improved. When it is all said and done, the investment of a mere $77 million will reap some incredible benefits for the state, as well as the people this rail corridor serves.

View Plant Profiles - 1067470 1067471
View Project Reports - 15002170 15002171

Industrial Information Resources (IIR) is a Marketing Information Service company that has been doing business for over 22 years. IIR is respected as a leader in providing comprehensive market intelligence pertaining to the industrial processing, heavy manufacturing, and energy-related industries throughout the world.