On Monday, CSX Corp., the New York City Economic Development Corp., Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) and New York Container Terminal Inc. held a ceremony at Arlington Yard in Staten Island, N.Y., to commemorate the launch of dedicated intermodal service on the Staten Island Railroad to and from the New York Container Terminal.

CSX Intermodal will provide long-haul service five days a week westbound and four days a week eastbound. The Class I will move containers daily to Chicago, Detroit, and Columbus, Ohio, and on alternate days to Cleveland, East St. Louis, Ill., Kansas City, Mo., and Worcester, Mass.
 
The parties spent about $600 million to transform the terminal into a 38-acre on-dock rail facility and warehouse. The eight-mile Staten Island Railroad — which was reactivated in 2007 — provides service to the container terminal and a Staten Island sanitation transfer facility.

“By connecting Staten Island’s container port to the national rail network, Staten Island residents and workers — as well as residents throughout New York City — are now enjoying the benefit of 45,000 fewer truck trips on their streets each year,” said U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) in a prepared statement.