Railmark Named Operator, Developer of Miss. Rail Line

(Railmark photo)

Railmark Industrial Railway Inc. (RIR), a wholly owned subsidiary of Railmark Holdings, Incorporated, has been named as the new operator and developer for the 11-mile industrial rail line in Tishomingo County, Miss., that interchanges with Norfolk Southern (NS) and the Tenn-Tom Waterway via a barge port.

According to Railmark, the company’s landmark strategy involves integrating road, barge and rail transportation “to develop a critical corridor with access to international shipping routes.” Railmark will also establish its eighth “Rail Service Center” there, offering its rail services in logistics, mechanical and track maintenance, as well as providing local training and employment opportunities.

RIR, originally constructed in 1982 for NASA, is located within a substantial industrial park, and with restoration and upgrades by Railmark, “is expected to play a pivotal role in local and regional economic development,” according to the company. As part of this new partnership, Railmark says it will also collaborate with Tishomingo County “to further develop rail-industrial opportunities and implement long-term economic development strategies.”

“This is a landmark moment for Tishomingo County as we engage with Railmark to elevate our industrial infrastructure to global standards,” said Michael Busby, Chairman of Tishomingo County’s Board of Supervisors. “The integration of road, barge, and rail operations to our 3,700+ acre industrial park will not only enhance our area’s logistical capabilities but also open up new avenues for economic growth and international trade.”

Railmark Holdings Incorporated, known for its “integrative approach to rail development,” says it is committed to the “success of this crucial project.”

“We are driven primarily by community and economic development centered around rail and consider this opportunity a privilege,” said Railmark CEO B. Allen Brown II. “We commend the county leadership for its outlook on rail as a keystone for building stronger communities and have pledged to support the county’s endeavors.”

Through its 26 years, Railmark says it has “remained committed to its business model of providing quality rail services in track construction and maintenance, railcar mechanical services, industrial rail switching, and transloading.” Railmark, which serves its customers from its eight “Rail Service Centers” and multiple locations of embedded mobile repair teams across the U.S., owns and operates the Yreka Western Railroad (YW), as well as RIR.