Louisville & Indiana Railroad, CSX finalize easement, upgrade deal

Louisville & Indiana Railroad (L&I), a subsidiary of Anacostia Rail holdings, and CSX said on Friday that they have agreed on an infrastructure upgrade and easement deal.

As part of the deal, CSX is paying L&I $10 million for  a permanent easement to operate on the 106-mile rail corridor between Louisville and Indianapolis. The deal also includes $90 million in infrastructure upgrades over the next several years to improve the tracks and right of way along this key corridor.

“CSX’s investment of approximately $100 million will provide enhanced rail access for the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville, increase capacity and efficiency along this corridor, and improve connectivity to CSX’s broader network,” Oscar Munoz, president and chief operating officer of CSX Corp., said. “These critical infrastructure improvements include the installation of new rail, upgrades to the rail-bed structure, and bridge improvements to enhance safety and service for customers in the Midwest and provide more efficient rail service throughout the region.”

“Since 2011, both L&I and CSX have coordinated with state and local officials to discuss the upgrade of the line to support manufacturers, farmers, marine ports and other contributors to the area’s economic growth,” John Goldman, president of the Louisville & Indiana Railroad, said. “As we undertake the first phase of construction, we will continue to collaborate with local officials to plan and execute construction activities to minimize disruptions to communities along the corridor.”