ExpressTrak rail service may soon double capacity
ExpressTrak rail service may soon double capacity
PHILADELPHIA -- J.M. Procacci is excited. He expects ExpressTrak to be doubling its refrigerated rail cargo service in the near future.
His firm, Procacci Bros./Garden State Farms, here, is in the midst of a two-year contract with ExpressTrak, which Procacci Bros. has used to bring produce to Philadelphia from various distant U.S. shipping points.
The expansion of service became a greater reality on Nov. 30 when the Senate provided $8.3 million within a larger bill. This portion of the legislation is part of a $40 million grant titled "Efficiency Incentive Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation." That corporation is Amtrak, and Amtrak's total funding from Congress for 2006 is $1.3 billion.
Kevin McKinney, vice president of marketing for Norfolk, VA-based ExpressTrak told The Produce News Dec. 7 that his firm entered into a 15-year contract with Amtrak in 1999. Amtrak trains are contracted to pull ExpressTrak refrigerated cars for fast service -- five days from coast to coast.
Mr. McKinney also indicated that ExpressTrak and Amtrak are currently in litigation, so he was limited in what he could say about the new national funding for ExpressTrak, which is a private company.
Of the legislation, he said, "I'm glad to see Amtrak got its budget." Mr. McKinney added that the $8.3 million provision "is for a perishable program, which is pretty much what we do. How that will be implemented, I don't know."
ExpressTrak owns 110 refrigerated cars, "which were all used at one point," Mr. McKinney said. Mr. Procacci indicated that only 55 of those cars were used last year, but he expects all the ExpressTrak cars to go into service in 2006. "We have been waiting for the other 55 for four or five years."
The congressional language indicated that the "$8.3 million shall be made available immediately upon enactment of this act only for a revenue service demonstration of not less than 5,500 carload shipments of premium temperature-control express."
Mr. McKinney said, "There is more cause for optimism" since the legislation passed "than maybe there otherwise would have been. We are anxious to remain in business. It is good for the produce industry and for all the parties involved." Mr. Procacci said that the expansion of ExpressTrak service "is an alternative means of having freight brought in -- other than by truck - in a timely fashion." Procacci Bros. has used ExpressTrak "a lot" in receiving product from Naples, FL-based Gargiulo Inc.'s California program.
Ken White, Procacci Bros.' inbound transportation coordinator, noted that the company last year also received ExpressTrak freight from Washington and Florida. With ExpressTrak service availability expected to double, "we'll definitely get a better price," he predicted.
"This gives us a new lease on life," Mr. Procacci said. "It's a good service. We've used five and six cars a week in years past." He said that ExpressTrak refurbished old mechanical refrigerated unites with Thermo King-type units, which are highly effective.
While the legislation was still pending on Nov. 18, the National Association of Railroad Passengers said, "Amtrak is trying to exit the carload express business, but the bankruptcy judge overseeing ExpressTrak requires Amtrak to continue handling ExpressTrak cars. Evidently not satisfied with the volume Amtrak was offering - roughly 1,400 cars in FY 2005 - ExpressTrak would appear to have a federal subsidy to support an almost 300 percent increase in traffic volume."
The ExpressTrak web site indicates, "ExpressTrak is a new concept in transportation. Combining the flexibility of truck transport, the economy of rail and the speed and scheduled dependability of the passenger train, ExpressTrak moves temperature-controlled and time-sensitive product with speed, economy and on-time precision. In conjunction with our partner, Amtrak -- America's only nationwide rail system -- ExpressTrak serves cities from coast to coast. The network of ExpressTrak routes and terminals continues to expand."
His firm, Procacci Bros./Garden State Farms, here, is in the midst of a two-year contract with ExpressTrak, which Procacci Bros. has used to bring produce to Philadelphia from various distant U.S. shipping points.
The expansion of service became a greater reality on Nov. 30 when the Senate provided $8.3 million within a larger bill. This portion of the legislation is part of a $40 million grant titled "Efficiency Incentive Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation." That corporation is Amtrak, and Amtrak's total funding from Congress for 2006 is $1.3 billion.
Kevin McKinney, vice president of marketing for Norfolk, VA-based ExpressTrak told The Produce News Dec. 7 that his firm entered into a 15-year contract with Amtrak in 1999. Amtrak trains are contracted to pull ExpressTrak refrigerated cars for fast service -- five days from coast to coast.
Mr. McKinney also indicated that ExpressTrak and Amtrak are currently in litigation, so he was limited in what he could say about the new national funding for ExpressTrak, which is a private company.
Of the legislation, he said, "I'm glad to see Amtrak got its budget." Mr. McKinney added that the $8.3 million provision "is for a perishable program, which is pretty much what we do. How that will be implemented, I don't know."
ExpressTrak owns 110 refrigerated cars, "which were all used at one point," Mr. McKinney said. Mr. Procacci indicated that only 55 of those cars were used last year, but he expects all the ExpressTrak cars to go into service in 2006. "We have been waiting for the other 55 for four or five years."
The congressional language indicated that the "$8.3 million shall be made available immediately upon enactment of this act only for a revenue service demonstration of not less than 5,500 carload shipments of premium temperature-control express."
Mr. McKinney said, "There is more cause for optimism" since the legislation passed "than maybe there otherwise would have been. We are anxious to remain in business. It is good for the produce industry and for all the parties involved." Mr. Procacci said that the expansion of ExpressTrak service "is an alternative means of having freight brought in -- other than by truck - in a timely fashion." Procacci Bros. has used ExpressTrak "a lot" in receiving product from Naples, FL-based Gargiulo Inc.'s California program.
Ken White, Procacci Bros.' inbound transportation coordinator, noted that the company last year also received ExpressTrak freight from Washington and Florida. With ExpressTrak service availability expected to double, "we'll definitely get a better price," he predicted.
"This gives us a new lease on life," Mr. Procacci said. "It's a good service. We've used five and six cars a week in years past." He said that ExpressTrak refurbished old mechanical refrigerated unites with Thermo King-type units, which are highly effective.
While the legislation was still pending on Nov. 18, the National Association of Railroad Passengers said, "Amtrak is trying to exit the carload express business, but the bankruptcy judge overseeing ExpressTrak requires Amtrak to continue handling ExpressTrak cars. Evidently not satisfied with the volume Amtrak was offering - roughly 1,400 cars in FY 2005 - ExpressTrak would appear to have a federal subsidy to support an almost 300 percent increase in traffic volume."
The ExpressTrak web site indicates, "ExpressTrak is a new concept in transportation. Combining the flexibility of truck transport, the economy of rail and the speed and scheduled dependability of the passenger train, ExpressTrak moves temperature-controlled and time-sensitive product with speed, economy and on-time precision. In conjunction with our partner, Amtrak -- America's only nationwide rail system -- ExpressTrak serves cities from coast to coast. The network of ExpressTrak routes and terminals continues to expand."
