CSX doubles Willard Yard's capacity

CSX has completed a series of major infrastructure improvements at its Willard Yard in Ohio to double daily car capacity and expand the terminal’s role as a critical hub in the railroad’s network.

Following a conversion from a hump yard to flat switching several years ago, portions of the yard had remained underutilized. Completed over the past two years, the recent projects targeted those dormant areas to improve flow and reliability, CSX officials said in a press release.

Infrastructure work included reconnecting the former hump area to the classification yard with new track panels and installing multiple new switches. Older power switches were converted to hand-throw mechanisms to provide better control for ground crews. Additionally, crews rebuilt and surfaced tracks that had been idle since humping operations ended, while extensive tie replacement strengthened the yard’s overall foundation, company officials said.

As a result of the improvements, Willard Yard now handles more than 600 cars per day, effectively doubling its previous capacity, CSX officials said. The facility now supports six working trains that stop to drop off and pick up cars along their routes, a change that reduces unnecessary miles and improves service times, they added.

Meanwhile, CSX recently was recognized as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging and Community for the second time. Presented by Newsweek and the Plant-A Insights Group, the recognition acknowledges companies that have successfully cultivated a welcoming and inclusive workplace environment as a cornerstone of their organizational success.

The honor places the Class I among other leading companies celebrated for creating environments where employees can belong and succeed, CSX officials said.