You don't have to look any further than neighboring CSX and CN and their already double stack cleared routes out of Mobile to see how much container traffic NS will get out of this deal. I know this board is primarily western folks, so I'll add those two roads are hardly moving any container traffic out of Mobile.

Someone at NS must have taken Kay Ivey to a really nice dinner, if not more.


Mythbusters Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Alabama is copying Georgia and their successful
> rail intermodal from Savannah to Crandall,
> Fairburn and soon Gainesville, GA. All under 350
> miles. NS and AL in phase one will clear Mobile to
> Bessemer for doublestacks for a new port of Mobile
> to McCalla, AL service. McCalla intermodal yard
> will be expanded. NS is paying 50%, AL 5% and the
> rest from federal grants.
>
> 215 highway miles from Mobile to McCalla. NS would
> not pay a penny if it were not going to be
> profitable for them.
>
> [www.railwayage.com]
> ye-232mm-capacity-improvement-project/
>
> Georgia Inland Port at Gainesville is under
> construction with NS service to start in 2024. The
> CSX train from Crandall Appalachian Regional Port
> had 48 containers into Atlanta this morning.
> Normally 50-100. Rides on train I197 from Fairburn
> to Savannah.
>
> Intermodal isn't profitable under 500 miles is a
> myth.