NS to switch major Great Lakes port

Ports of Indiana, operator of the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan, has selected Norfolk Southern as the port’s exclusive provider of onsite rail-switching service.

Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor, which opened in 1970, is Indiana’s oldest such facility. This is the first time the port will have an onsite, dedicated switching provider. The facility, a leading international port on the Great Lakes, handles billions of dollars in shipments each year by ocean-going vessels, lake ships, river barges, rail, and trucks.

In 2010, Ports of Indiana submitted a request for proposals from several rail carriers in an effort to improve rail service for current port customers and increase business opportunities involving rail shipments through the port. After an extensive review of several proposals from around the country, Ports of Indiana selected NS to be the dedicated rail-switching service provider for its Burn Harbor facility.

“We’ve been providing rail service at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor for years, and this was a great opportunity for us to expand our business to meet the needs of port customers,” said Steve Evans, Norfolk Southern assistant vice president for ports and international business. “This agreement not only improves daily rail service to our port customers, but it will also increase operational efficiencies at both Norfolk Southern and the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, making it be a win-win for all parties involved.” The new arrangement still provides direct connectivity to the Indiana Harbor Belt and other railroads.

“We’re excited to partner with Norfolk Southern to improve rail service at our port,” said Ports of Indiana CEO Rich Cooper. “This partnership creates several opportunities for our customers to grow business, including implementing unit trains where appropriate, improving switching services inside the port, and working closely with other carriers when opportunities present themselves. Having a world-class Class I carrier with a major rail yard, equipment, and crews located immediately adjacent to us will create significant advantages for our port customers.”

Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority that operates a system of three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan in Burns Harbor, Mount Vernon, and Jeffersonville.