UP/CSX Produce Train Arrives Ahead Of Schedule ROTTERDAM, NY -- The inaugural run of an express produce train from Washington state apparently occurred without a hitch over the weekend. The first train, due in Rotterdam today, arrived Sunday, a full two days ahead of schedule. Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation jointly operate the train for Railex LLC, a unit of Ampco Distribution Services LLC of Riverhead, Long Island. Officials of Railex have been mum as their new service began operating. They want to ensure there aren't any problems in the system, which will connect produce distribution centers in Wallula, Washington, and Rotterdam with once-a-week, 55-car trains that stop only for crew changes and maintenance, and are tracked and monitored by satellite throughout their 3,000-mile trip. Railex spokesman Paul Esposito confirmed Monday the train arrived early. The company, which expected to hire 150 people for its $18 million Rotterdam distribution center, will handle one train a week to start, with each train carrying the equivalent of 200 truckloads of produce. A second train could be added sometime next year, Esposito has said previously. The trains will move perishables from coast to coast, with rail cars that are individually climate-controlled to suit the type of produce being carried. Temperature and humidity are monitored constantly, with the data transmitted by satellite. The cars aren't separated or switched to other trains, so handling is minimized. They're loaded and unloaded inside the West Coast and East Coast warehouses, which are also climate-controlled. The first train carried potatoes, apples and onions, as well as a few cases of pears. The produce trains will use less fuel than the 200 trucks needed to move the same amount of produce, Railex officials have said. And with a shortage of long-haul truck drivers, the rail service also is expected to be more reliable. That could translate into savings at the supermarket, grocery officials have said. Produce will be distributed throughout the Northeast. - Eric Anderson, The Albany Times Union
On the CSX side, CSX has made an exception to the amount of power that can be used for this train, 3 AC4400s, which can all be used to move this train as quickly as possible. The cars are also authorized to run 60 MPH loaded or empty (vs. 50 MPH standard empty car limit). CSX train symbols are Q090 (loaded) and Q091 (empties).
