The operator of North Judson’s short line railroad plans to rehabilitate 15 miles of track, thanks to a $300,000 Industrial Rail Service Fund grant. The Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad says it will install more than 4,400 new ties on a stretch of track through LaPorte County. Railroad representatives say that will bring the segment up to Class 1 track standards, which allow freight trains to travel at up to 10 miles per hour.
Chesapeake and Indiana also plans to improve the Thomaston interchange with the Norfolk Southern Railway, to handle increased traffic from Co-Alliance, the line’s major customer. Chesapeake and Indiana plans to cover the required local funding match with $300,000 in private money. The company plans to complete the upgrades by this fall.
