Oakmont, Pa. -- The Delmarva Central Railroad Company (DCR), a subsidiary of Carload Express Inc. (CEI), has filed with the federal Surface Transportation Board to lease and operate 162 miles of rail line in Delaware and Maryland. The line is owned and currently operated by Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC). DCR expects to create more than 30 new jobs as part of its operations.
The lines run from near Porter, Delaware (south of Wilmington), south to Pocomoke City, Maryland; and from Harrington to Frankford. Pending Surface Transportation Board approval, DCR expects to begin operations in December 2016.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Carload Express to develop and enhance efficient, safe and customer-focused freight rail service on the Delmarva Peninsula,” said Carload Express CEO Russell Peterson. “Our team is eager to serve our new customers, create new jobs for local residents and support the economic development of the region.”
DCR will be managed locally from offices in Harrington, Delaware. Freight operations will be based out of Harrington, Seaford and Delmar.
“Carload is ideally positioned to serve Delmarva’s agricultural and aggregate industries,” Peterson said. “The growth of these stable commodities suit our overall corporate growth strategy of carefully selecting stand-alone rail networks with a diversity of freight traffic.”
DCR will become the fourth shortline railroad operated by Carload Express, joining Allegheny Valley, Southwest Pennsylvania and Ohio Terminal Railroads. Since beginning operations in 1992 with 4,400 annual carloads, Carload Express has grown its traffic over 1,700 percent to nearly 80,000 carloads per year.
Carload recently purchased 17 additional locomotives to support operations and future company expansion, bringing the company’s fleet to 46 locomotives.
