Washington District of Columbia USA - Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), CSX Corporation (CSX) and Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) today said the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has approved CSX's and CPKC's respective applications regarding their acquisition of the rail lines operated by G&W's Meridian & Bigbee Railroad, L.L.C. (MNBR), which will result in the creation of a new direct CPKC-CSX interchange connection in Alabama.
 
Through the now-approved transaction, which was previously announced in June 2023, CPKC will acquire and operate across the 52 mile segment between Meridian, Mississippi, and Myrtlewood, Alabama, currently owned by MNBR, while CSX will operate the lines currently operated by MNBR east of Myrtlewood.
 
As a result, CPKC and CSX will establish a direct Class I-to-Class I interchange at or near Myrtlewood and connect shippers in Mexico, Texas, and the Southeast U.S.
 
MNBR will continue to provide local service to customers between Meridian and Myrtlewood.
 
"We thank the STB members for their careful consideration of this vision to create a new Class I corridor providing more efficient service for existing CPKC and CSX traffic, while introducing new competitive shipping options between Mexico, Texas, and the U.S. Southeast for our customers. With this new east-west Class I route, we are creating competition, providing a service that will take more trucks off the road, and growing rail transportation by expanding markets across the southern U.S., from Dallas to Atlanta and beyond," said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO.
 
"This new interchange with CPKC highlights our ongoing efforts to provide sustainable rail solutions and service excellence for our customers. Once complete, the interchange will help drive long-term business growth allowing customers to have greater connectivity and efficiency to reach key markets in Texas, Mexico, and the U.S. Southeast, all while providing safe and reliable service," said Joe Hinrichs, President and CEO of CSX.
 
"This transaction is a win for customers, who benefit from a new Class I connection in the growing Southeast U.S. and uninterrupted shortline service from MNBR between Myrtlewood, Alabama, and Meridian, Mississippi," said Michael Miller, G&W CEO.
 
The STB approval is effective 16 Nov 2024.
 
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