The Louisville and Indiana Railroad (LIRC) has announced that it will be increasing train traffic between Louisville, Ky., and Seymour, Ind., on or soon after September 1 of this year.
Over a period of several weeks, LIRC and CSX Transportation (CSXT) will also increase train speeds incrementally from the current speed limit of 25 mph to a maximum of 49 mph at many locations. Improvements have been made to the track and the signaling equipment to allow for the increase in speeds in accordance with federal regulations.
CSXT is also increasing the number and average length of its trains. The company, which currently operates three to four trains per day on the LIRC rail line, will initially increase to an estimated 10 CSXT trains per day between Louisville, Ky., and Seymour, Ind. The number of trains may also increase in the future. Train length may be up to 14,000 feet long. The number and length of CSXT trains will vary, depending on rail freight volumes.
The changes on the LIRC are part of an agreement between LIRC and CSXT in which CSXT is funding approximately $100 million in infrastructure improvements to support increased train traffic from both railroads over the LIRC line. The agreement was approved in April 2015 by the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB).
The increased rail traffic will provide better access for the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville, more capacity and efficiency along this corridor and improve connectivity for manufacturers, farmers and marine ports.
Since the agreement was approved, representatives from the railroads have held meetings with community leaders on project status updates and to address concerns related to public safety. Motorists and pedestrians are reminded to obey railroad crossing signals and warnings and to use caution when approaching all highway-rail grade crossings.
Operation Lifesaver's offices in Indiana and in Kentucky are available for safety presentations.