CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
TO: ALL NS EMPLOYEE OUTLOOK USERS
FROM: CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS DEPT.
RE: NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2007
FEDERAL BOARD’S DECISION SHORTCHANGES
MICHIGAN RAIL SHIPPERS AND PASSENGERS, NORFOLK SOUTHERN SAYS
NORFOLK, VA – Norfolk Southern Railway Company said that the Surface
Transportation Board’s (STB) Dec. 10, 2007, denial of regulatory
approval for an innovative joint venture involving freight and
passenger rail service over 384 route miles in Michigan and Indiana
represents a lost opportunity for the region’s shippers, passengers
and communities.
Norfolk Southern and Watco Companies had planned jointly to form a
new regional railroad, Michigan Central Railway, to preserve and grow
freight service in the region. Amtrak passenger lines would have
benefited from an extended agreement ensuring continued maintenance
and investment levels on the rail lines between Ypsilanti and
Kalamazoo, Mich.
The transaction was supported by rail freight customers, Amtrak,
short line railroads and a number of state and local officials.
Under the transaction, Norfolk Southern would have contributed to
Michigan Central most of its rail line segments and trackage rights in
Michigan west of Ypsilanti. Those lines carry rail freight service, as
well as much of Michigan’s Amtrak passenger service. Watco would have
contributed several million dollars in cash and locomotives. The new,
independently operated Michigan Central planned to employ up to 118
people and concentrate on reinvesting its revenues in track and
infrastructure.
“It is a sad day for rail transportation in Michigan,” said Wick
Moorman, Norfolk Southern’s chief executive officer. “The proposal was
a creative, farsighted response to the long-term trend of shrinking
rail volumes in the region. It was designed to spur infrastructure
investment and leverage the talents of an experienced short line
operator – all to the benefit of the state, its freight rail customers
and rail passenger service.”
The STB action ends Watco’s planned investment in the lines and
terminates the proposed Amtrak agreement that would have guaranteed
$23 million in maintenance and infrastructure improvements on the main
passenger routes. Norfolk Southern said it will continue to look for
options for the lines. However, because the current traffic on certain
rail segments does not justify additional investment by Norfolk
Southern, some areas may see curtailment of service.
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s
premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway
subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and
the District of Columbia, serving every major container port in the
eastern United States and providing superior connections to western
rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive
intermodal network in the East and is North America’s largest rail
carrier of metals and automotive products.