The Alabama Export Railroad will operate 12.1 miles of former Illinois Central trackage in downtown Mobile and serve eight customers on the line.
Alabama Export plans to work closely with the Port of Mobile, online shippers, the local community, and connecting railroads to develop the freight potential of the leased trackage.
The trackage being leased includes 6.6 miles of the Beaumont Sub, from the State Docks on the Mobile River to Belt Junction, along with the Frescati Lead, some of which is out of service.
The railroads said Alabama Export Railroad will be able to provide more economical, efficient, and responsive service than a Class I railroad could provide.
Alabama Export will be a wholly owned subsidiary of the Mississippi Export Railroad, a 42-mile short line that runs between Evanston and Pascagoula, Miss. The IC has a one-third ownership interest in the Mississippi Export Railroad.
The transaction, which is expected to qualify for an exemption from review by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, should close within 30 days.
The Illinois Central Railroad is still considered a subsidiary of the CN. They then overlay their operating plans on the USA railroads.
This is actually ex GM&N, GM&O trackage. A GAF asphalt shingle plant just closed on the line. CN was routing coal trains over it the State Docks coal terminal but built a connection to the CSX across town and use it now. The tracks all welded rail and in great shape. I hope the new railroad can make it work.