The Delaware Congressional Delegation announced an $18.8 million U.S. Department of Transportation Grant to the Delmarva Central Railroad for repairs on 188 miles of track. Delmarva Central was formed with the sale of a section of the Norfolk and Southern Railroad to Carload Express, a short-line railroad company based in Pennsylvania.
Carload Express has been making improvements to the railroad, which plays a key role in supplying grain to Delmarva’s poultry industry. Carload Express also agreed to take over some trackage controlled by the State of Delaware.
According to the Congressional Delegation, some of the infrastructure on the 188-mile railroad is a century old.
“Improving these bridges supports a critical flow of freight on the Delmarva Peninsula, connecting many rural areas in southern Delaware, Maryland, and the Eastern Shore of Virginia to the national rail network, supporting major industries and regional employers,” the delegation stated.
The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement Program grant will be used along with Delmarva Central Railroad’s $29.4 million investment to upgrade three large, aging moving rail bridges – the Chesapeake & Delaware (C&D) Canal Bridge, Nanticoke River Bridge, and the Pocomoke River Cassatt Bridge. The investments will also upgrade public rail crossings and the main rail line. The improvements are designed to increase rail shipments to and from the region. The company also offers rail-truck “trans-loading” services of materials to businesses without a spur.
Delmarva Central operates run from the Bear area to Hallwood, VA; and from Harrington to Frankford with branches to Milton and Gravel Hill.
The railroad connects with Norfolk Southern, as well as the Maryland & Delaware Railroad in several locations on the Delmarva Peninsula.
DCR is managed locally from offices in Harrington. Click on headline below for earlier story.
Delmarva Central plans to take over Norfolk Southern trackage
