Moving CSX rail line could be key to growth at Jaxport

[thelakelander]

This Jax Business Journal article by Timothy Gibbons highlights the conceptual routes under consideration for a railroad that would allow port rail traffic to bypass the urban core.


The white lines show possible routes for a more direct rail connection from the Port of Jacksonville.

Full article: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/01/29/moving-csx-rail-line-could-be-key-to.html

[tufsu1]

The North Florida TPO has been studying this for the past few years.  the recommended alignment is supposed to be announced next month

[mtraininjax]

This is pure poppycock, the real growth at JaxPORT is all about the depth of the water, not the ability or inability to create a rail yard to move imports and exports.

Brown and Crenshaw are not fighting for more rail, they are fighting for more depth.

[acme54321]

Yeah this is about CSX making more money.

[icarus]

I have to respectfully disagree that the proposed rail extension relates to capacity.  So, assuming we get the financial support or political will to dredge, is JAXPORT prepared to handle not only the arrival of post panamax ships but the sudden arrival of substantial amounts of containerized freight?

To the extent Savannah and Miami have better connectivity to rail and the ability to accept the same ships, it could become a deciding factor on which port to call.  Charleston has already gone live with its inland port making it an attractive port for distribution of freight.

[tufsu1]

This is pure poppycock, the real growth at JaxPORT is all about the depth of the water, not the ability or inability to create a rail yard to move imports and exports.

Brown and Crenshaw are not fighting for more rail, they are fighting for more depth.

sorry but no. 

The ports in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Tampa have all invested in enhanced rail connections.  In fact, we are now the only major port in the state that doesn't have an intermodal container transfer facility on-site.  Godd thing that should be changing in the next 2 years.

[Ocklawaha]

Well Mtrain, @ 1 million annual containers a year (a figure we may have just reached) and considering a 50/50 ratio of traffic for rail and truck=500,000 containers a year on the rails in and out then you've just added 27.3 inbound and 27.3 outbound, 50 car trains daily creeping along through Springfield, Gateway and Moncrief. These trains will be operating at 'YARD LIMIT' speed. What is that? 25 MPH through the metro trackage.

Add the 'ALL ABOARD FLORIDA', 'AMTRAK EXPANSION,' and/or 'GEORGIA DOT' plans.

Capacity + harbor depth + vision (such as pushing this line all the way to Westlake and the NS/FEC) and keeping the whole of Blount Island to Westlake under JPA is the answer.

[tufsu1]

the problem is right now the JaxPort ratio is like 5-10% rail and 90-95% truck

[icarus]

From what I remember from former proposals I reviewed from developers and port officials, the existing rail is incredibly constricted by the switching yard .... capacity and union contracts dictate how many rail cars can be switched in a given day.  It really makes rail impracticable.

I think the situation at the port ranks up there with not providing a spur line into Cecil Commerce Center. SMH

[thelakelander]

If rail is impracticable at JaxPort and can't be improved, we should save our money and move on from trying to dredge.  It will take more than deep water to compete will other East Coast ports that offer companies and shippers more.

[icarus]

Pushing for dredging and not addressing all the other issues .... is kind of like buying a car but not the tires.

[mtraininjax]

The ports in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Tampa have all invested in enhanced rail connections.  In fact, we are now the only major port in the state that doesn't have an intermodal container transfer facility on-site.  Godd thing that should be changing in the next 2 years.

Good for those cities, You are missing the POINT, our reps in Washington are not lobbying for more "enhanced rail connections", they are lobbying for a deeper river. Focus on the major point of the deeper river, everything else will then come as a result of a deeper river.

Pushing for dredging and not addressing all the other issues .... is kind of like buying a car but not the tires.

LOL, good one. Tell this to our representatives. Get back to us on what they say. Nothing sexy about rail, but its way more sexy to ask for 1.1 BILLION to dredge a river.  No one remembers you for building some new rail lines, but they do when you "deliver" billions.

[tufsu1]

or perhaps by funding the rail connection, we could show the Feds that Jax. is committed

[thelakelander]

Yeah, considering all those other guys are ahead in the game of getting deeper water too!