The Norfolk Southern railway is set to begin construction of a $95 million intermodal facility in Greencastle, PA., located about 20 miles north of Hagerstown, MD.
The 200-acre facility will serve as a hub for traffic moving between the gulf coast and the northeast.

The Greencastle facility will become part of the railroad's multi-state Crescent Corridor program, creating a high-capacity, 2,500-mile intermodal route spanning from New Jersey to Louisiana that touches 26 percent of the nation's population and 30 percent of the nation's manufacturing output. It provides the shortest intermodal double-stack route between the south and the northeast. When fully operational, it will handle more rail freight traffic faster and more reliably, and it will produce these estimated annual benefits:

* 1.3 million long-haul trucks diverted from interstates
* $141 million in accident avoidance savings
* 1.8 million tons in CO2 reduction
* $565 million in congestion savings
* $262 million in highway maintenance savings
* 163 million gallons in fuel savings

The terminal will utilize the latest in gate and terminal automation technology, which shortens the waiting time for trucks entering the terminal, thereby reducing exhaust emissions and improving truck driver productivity. Four daily intermodal trains will serve the terminal. It will create the capacity to handle more than 85,000 containers and trailers annually, the railroad says. It is expected to open in 2012.

Attending the groundbreaking ceremony were Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman, Pennsylvania Gov., Ed Rendell, Federal Railroad Administration Deputy Administrator, Karen Rae, Rep. Bill Shuster, and other state and local dignitaries.

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