New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) on Oct. 17 reported that Heniff Transportation Systems LLC will manage rail transloading services at the newly opened New Orleans Transloading Industrial Park.
The Park is located at Terminal Road in New Orleans East on property owned by the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA), parent company of Class III NOPB, which connects with all six Class I’s (BNSF, CN, CSX, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific) and serves Port NOLA and local businesses. Infrastructure improvements included three additional tracks, rail switching capabilities, and drainage and road upgrades. The transload yard has the capacity to service up to 21 railcars.
The total cost of the facility was $3 million, which included Cycle Construction Company LLC’s $2.2 million contract. It was funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Shortline Railroad Priority Program, plus a $1.5 million match from NOPB.
According to NOPB, the Park will allow Heniff “to provide multi-modal shipping options for liquid and dry bulk products to existing customers while simultaneously opening new markets.” Heniff’s transload network includes 44 locations across North America; it handles approximately 20,000 railcars per year. The Transloading Industrial Park is said to complement the company’s existing liquid bulk service operations adjacent to the property.
“We’re excited to welcome Heniff as a new NOPB customer at our Transloading Industrial Park in New Orleans East,” Port NOLA acting President and CEO and acting NOPB CEO Ronald Wendel said. “Together, we will ensure products are moved more efficiently through the global supply chain while also driving economic growth in and beyond this region.”
“Together with the NOPB and Port NOLA, we’re very pleased to expand our transloading capabilities within the region,” said Bob Heniff, Founder and CEO of Heniff Transportation Systems. “The enhanced rail infrastructure and its strategic location offers our company a true competitive edge and service enhancements for our many customers.”
“We are proud to work with an industry leader like Heniff as we grow our network,” said NOPB General Manager Tomeka Watson Bryant, a Railway Age 2022 “Women in Rail” and 2021 “20 Under 40” honoree. “Multi-modal infrastructure improvements like the NOPB Transloading Industrial Park not only allow us to move freight more efficiently through our global gateway, but also help us grow the economy and bring more jobs to the region.”
“This project completion highlights the impact of the state’s investment in the Shortline Rail Improvement Program as it is one of the original awards from the launch of the program in 2022,” added Julia Fisher-Cormier, Commissioner for LADOTD, Office of Multimodal Commerce.
NOPB’s main classification yard, Cotton Warehouse Yard, is located in Uptown New Orleans. Two additional yards, Claiborne (now being expanded) and France, serve downtown customers. The NOPB system also includes four storage yards: Pauline, Race St., East Bridge, and South.
