Rail access is often a requirement for heavy
industrial users
Adequate rail service is a high priority for industrial and manufacturing companies when considering a move or expansion. Southwest Ohio is served by two rail lines—CSX and Norfolk Southern—and they provide service to all major cities and ports throughout Ohio, the Midwest, East Coast and the Ohio River and Great Lake Ports.
Rail vs. truck—using rail means lower costs and greater efficiency:
Rail equals fuel efficiency. One gallon of fuel can move one ton 400 miles. Rail means lower costs and greater efficiency. One train can carry as much as several hundred trucks. In 2009, 238.61 million tons of freight originated, terminated or passed through Ohio by rail. It would have taken approximately 13.3 million trucks to handle this freight.
Capacity |
One double-stack train equals up to 280 trucks. |
Fuel Efficiency |
On a ton-to-mile basis, trains are 2-4X more fuel efficient. |
Emissions |
On a ton-to-mile basis, trains are 3X cleaner. |
These factors can help you determine if rail is the right option
for you:
- Distance. Rail works best for longer distances than shorter ones.
- Product weight. Rail works best for heavier products than for lighter products.
- Rail access. Rail works best if one or both the shipper or receiver is rail-served.
- Volume density. Rail works best in those lanes that have consistent and heavy volume.
These factors can help you determine if rail is the right option for you:
- Distance – Rail works best for longer distances than shorter ones.
- Product weight – Rail works best for heavier products than for lighter products.
- Rail access – Rail works best if one or both the shipper or receiver is rail-served.
- Volume density – Rail works best in those lanes that have consistent and heavy volume.
The U.S. freight railroad industry is big business. CSX Network and operations, by example:
- Operate an average of 1,200 trains per day
- Transport an average of 20,000 carloads per day
- Maintain a fleets of more than 3,800 locomotives and nearly 102,000 freight cars
- They provide service to:
- – every major population and industrial center east of the Mississippi River
- – 36 automobile distribution centers
- – 165+ bulk intermodal distribution terminals and rail-to-truck bulk trainload facilities
- – 130+ active coal mines
- – 105 coal-fired power plants and –cogeneration facilities
Freight railroad statistics in the U.S. and Ohio
|
U.S. |
Ohio |
No. of Freight Railroads |
565 |
36 |
No. of Freight Railroad Miles |
139,679 |
5,286 |
No. of Freight Railroad Employees |
169,891 |
7,261 |
Tons of Freight Transported (Starting) |
1.671 |
50.282 |
Tons of Freight Transported (Ending) |
1.711 |
66.362 |
1Trillions 2Millions |
Source: Association of American Railroads |
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Do you require rail access for your manufacturing operation?
Look to Midd Cities Industrial Park to suite your company’s growing needs. It has a heavy industrial infrastructure in place. Most buildings have CSX rail access on-site track mobile and railcar storage. This facility also offers crane service up to 60-tons and is ideally suited as a steel service center. It’s also a Designated Enterprise Zone.

The Southwest Ohio region is one of the largest industrial, distribution and manufacturing areas in the United States. Rail makes this possible. These two major intersecting rail lines provide world-class industry access to corporate manufacturing customers and suppliers.
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