R.J. Corman begins eastern Carolinas service

R.J. Corman

Public officials and other community members joined R.J. Corman Railroad Group representatives in late March to celebrate the opening of its railroad service to the eastern regions of North and South Carolina.

R.J. Corman called the opening of the line a “culmination of unprecedented collaboration between area leaders and the private sector in addition to substantial track and bridge rehabilitation.”

The line had originally been shut down in 2011 and R.J. Corman purchased the line for $13.9 million in June 2015 after being selected by a two-state rail committee tasked with finding a owner/operator for the route.

“In the beginning of American railroading, our country’s leaders saw the opportunities this new form of transportation provided,” said R. J. Corman Railroad Group President and Chief Executive Offier Craig King. “As the railroads were built and industries who needed new markets were connected with people who needed their products, our nation’s economy boomed. These are different times, but this region has the need to expand markets and reduce costs of products brought in. Once again, visionaries have united to improve transportation and the lives of those in this region. I am humbled that we were your choice for renewal. You made he right choice.”

The Federal Railroad Administration has given its approval to begin operation of the 90-mile line, which is now known as the R. J. Corman Carolina Lines (RJCS). The shortline railroad already has commitments to ship cars from seven key companies and expects to add customers and increase the frequency of trains.