Sen. Peters joins Harsco for tour, policy discussion
Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
Photo courtesy of NRC
Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) joined Harsco Rail Aug. 10 for a tour and a discussion of transportation public policy at the company’s Ludington, Mich., facility.
The event was coordinated by GoRail, the Michigan Railroads Association (MRA), the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) and the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA).
“On behalf of Harsco, our company would like to thank Sen. Peters for being a huge supporter of railroads, the rail industry,” and an advocate in Washington, D.C., for increased infrastructure investment, said NRC Board member and Harsco Vice President of North America Region & Global Contracting Allen Branham. “Harsco Rail is very proud of its long history creating engineering and manufacturing jobs in Ludington supporting the global railroad industry.”
The Harsco Rail Ludington facility engineers and produces track maintenance equipment for railway systems in North America and abroad. Harsco also acquired Electric Tamper and Equipment Company, which was founded in 1923 by Corwill Jackson in Ludington. Plant Manager Alex Whitacre led the tour.
Those who participated in the tour also took part in a discussion regarding the importance of trade and the movement of goods by rail between Canada and the U.S. Attendees also discussed the private nature of the U.S. freight railroad network, which does not rely on federal support to expand or maintain its network.
The group thanked Sen. Peters for supporting the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act, which officials said will allow the nation’s small, local freight railroads to boost their reinvestment for upgrades and expanding first and last mile of transportation infrastructure.
Those in attendance at the tour also emphasized the need to maintain the current federal limits for truck size and weight, stressing that at current weight and size limits, trucks cause more damage than they pay for on U.S. highways.
