NECR breaks ground on rail upgrade project

A NECR locomotive breaks the ceremonial banner to break ground on the $12.8 million project that will upgrade infrastructure to accommodate 286k carloads.

Twitter/Office of Sen. Richard Blumenthal

Federal, state and local officials gathered on Oct. 25 for a groundbreaking of a New England Central Railroad (NECR) project that will upgrade infrastructure to accommodate freight carloads of up to 286,000 lbs.

NECR, part of Genesee & Wyoming’s shortline group, is contributing $4.6 million to the $12.8 million project. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) was awarded a $8.2-million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant during the seventh round of awards in 2014 for the work.

The project will upgrade the existing line between New London and Stafford Springs, Conn., with 7.5 miles of new continuous welded rail, 15,000 new crossties and 15,000 tons of ballast. Once complete, the current 263,000 lb. per rail car weight limit of the NECR main line in Connecticut will be increased to 286,000 lbs. Officials said this will provide Connecticut industry dependent on this rail line much better shipping efficiencies, allowing them to fully utilize the rail freight network throughout North America.

“After the rail line upgrades are completed, it will greatly expand the freight capacity of the eastern Connecticut rail network. That is an enormous increase from the current capacity and will allow the Port of New London to greatly expand the amount of freight cargo that can be shipped in and sent out by rail across the region. This development is bound to expand industry and create new jobs across eastern Connecticut as shipping expands,” said U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT-2).

NECR President David Ebbrecht said, “The TIGER VII grant will make a significant improvement in freight transportation in Connecticut. It will make movement of goods to and from the Port of New London and the numerous communities along the line more efficient and help Connecticut industry better compete in national and world markets.”