National Gateway Explained

National Gateway is a multi-stage railroad construction project in the United States promoted by CSX Transportation, a unit of CSX Corporation. It is designed to improve rail connections between ports in the U.S. mid-Atlantic seaboard and the Midwest by upgrading bridges and tunnels to allow taller freight trains (ones carrying double-stack intermodal containers). In 2008 the company announced its plans to invest $300 million, and is seeking investment from state governments and the U.S. federal government of an additional $400 million as a public-private partnership.^[1] Phase 1 of the $850 million project, between CSX's existing terminal in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and its hub facility in Northwest Ohio. was completed in September 2013.^[2]

Unrelated project

An unrelated project with the same name was founded in 2001 as an engineering test between global communication networks.^[3]

Completed railway improvement projects

• Northwest Ohio Intermodal Terminal in North Baltimore, Ohio. Funded completely by CSX. Opened February 2011.^{[4] [5]} A number of tunnels were open cut for the project including:
  • Shoo Fly Tunnel (2012)
  • Pinkerton Tunnel (2012)
  • Benford Tunnel (2012)
• Virginia Avenue Tunnel in Washington, DC (2018). Tunnel rebuilt using cut-and-cover to double track and allow for double-stacked containers.^[6]

Projects under construction or funded

• Rail corridor parallel to Interstate 70 and Interstate 76 between Washington, D.C. and northwest Ohio, via Pittsburgh. Federal funding approved in December 2010.^[7]
• Lowering track on the Capital Subdivision in Maryland.^[8]
• Replacing bridges and modifying tunnels on the Metropolitan Subdivision in Maryland.

Proposed projects

• Rail corridor parallel to Interstate 95 between North Carolina and Baltimore, via Washington, D.C.
  • Lowering track and modifying the Long Bridge on the RF&P Subdivision in Washington
  • Replacing a bridge on the RF&P Subdivision in Woodbridge, Virginia
• Washington, D.C. - Ohio rail corridor
  • New intermodal terminal in western Pennsylvania.
  • New intermodal rail yard in Columbus, Ohio.
• Carolina Corridor between Wilmington and Charlotte

See also

• National Docks Secondary and Long Dock Tunnel
• List of CSX Transportation lines
• Heartland Corridor  - Norfolk Southern Railway improvement project
• Norfolk Southern Crescent Corridor
• Virginia Port Authority
• Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, a stimulus program providing some of the funding
• MidAmerica Corridor^[9]

References

• News: CSX initiative will include new intermodal terminals. Jacksonville Business Journal. May 2, 2008 . 2008-05-17 .
• News: Jeff . Berman . Transportation infrastructure: CSX launches National Gateway. Rail carrier says $700 million PPP will provide efficient transportation link between Mid-Atlantic ports and Midwest . Logistics Management . May 12, 2008 . 2008-05-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080521025151/http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/CA6560099.html . May 21, 2008 .
• News: Adrian . Burns . CSX commits to new south-side intermodal facility . Business First of Columbus, Ohio . May 2, 2008 . 2008-05-17 .
• Maryland Department of Transportation, Hanover, MD (2008). "Maryland Freight Project List - Rail." Accessed 2009-12-05.
• Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Washington, DC (2009). "CSX National Gateway Projects in the Washington Region." Accessed 2009-12-05.

External links

• National Gateway - Official site of National Gateway, a CSX Transportation project
• National Gateway page at Ohio DOT TIGER grants

Notes and References

1. CSX Corporation, Jacksonville, FL (2008). "CSX Announces National Gateway to Improve Flow of Freight." 2008-05-01.
2. Web site: Railroad initiative nearing completion | National Gateway.
3. http://nationalgateway.com/ National Gateway (Communications)
4. TradingMarkets.com (2010-09-19). "Loaded for Business."
5. Akron Railroad Club (2011-06-30)."CSX Shows Off North Baltimore Container Facility."
6. Web site: Virginia Avenue Tunnel: Project Overview . Projects and Partnerships . 2021-09-28 . CSX.
7. ProgressiveRairoading.com (2010-12-17). "USDOT, Ohio finalize TIGER grant pact for National Gateway corridor."
8. CSX (2011-05-18). "CSX Commits Additional $160 Million to National Gateway." Press release.
9. http://www.nscorp.com/content/nscorp/en/news/cn-and-norfolk-southernannouncemidamericacorridorinitiativetospe.html