Port of Memphis, Cargill team up on US$20M project to add rail tracks at Presidents Island industrial park to allow lower-cost unit trains access

Alison Gallant

Alison Gallant

LOS ANGELES , August 9, 2011 () – The Port of Memphis is teaming up with Cargill Inc. to add more rail tracks at the 1,000-acre Presidents Island industrial park to improve service and alleviate rail congestion, The Commercial Appeal reported Aug. 7.

The US$20 million public-private project involves building track sections long enough to allow less expensive unit trains into Cargill’s corn mill site, according to Memphis-Shelby County Port Commission executive director Randy Richardson.

The Cargill mill, which produces high fructose corn syrup, is the Minneapolis-based company’s only site outside of the Corn Belt, and for the site to remain viable, the company needs to reduce transportation costs, according to Dexter Muller, Greater Memphis Chamber vice president of community development.

The state and city contributed $3 million each and the city is seeking an additional $2.5 million contribution from the federal government.

The additional tracks will also allow other companies on Presidents Island to save on transportation costs by expanding their use of rail service and intermodal transportation, according to Cargill spokeswoman Nicole Reichart.

Three Class I railroads, Canadian National Railway, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC, Union Pacific Corp., ship on a common set of rails at Presidents Island, Muller noted.

The new sections of track to be added will be able to handle unit trains, which are 100 or more cars usually hauling one product, according to Richardson.

The primary source of this article is The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tennessee, Aug. 7, 2011.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.

Share:

About Us

We deliver market news & information relevant to your business.

We monitor all your market drivers.

We aggregate, curate, filter and map your specific needs.

We deliver the right information to the right person at the right time.

Our Contacts

1990 S Bundy Dr. Suite #380,
Los Angeles, CA 90025

+1 (310) 553 0008

About Cookies On This Site

We collect data, including through use of cookies and similar technology ("cookies") that enchance the online experience. By clicking "I agree", you agree to our cookies, agree to bound by our Terms of Use, and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. For more information on our data practices and how to exercise your privacy rights, please see our Privacy Policy.