Pan Am Southern

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Pan Am Southern
Pan Am Logo.svg
Overview
Reporting markPAS
LocaleNew England, New York
Dates of operation2009–
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Pan Am Southern, LLC (reporting mark PAS)[1] is a freight railroad jointly owned by Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) and Pan Am Railways (PAR). PAS owns trackage known as the Patriot Corridor between Albany, New York, and the Boston, Massachusetts, area, utilizing rail lines formerly owned by the Boston and Maine Corporation. It is operated by PAR subsidiary Springfield Terminal Railway.

History[]

Westbound train on Pan Am Southern in Zoar, Massachusetts led by Norfolk Southern ES40DC 7613

On May 15, 2008, Norfolk Southern Railway announced that it had come to an agreement with Pan Am Railways to "create an improved rail route between Albany, N.Y., and the greater Boston, Mass., area called the 'Patriot Corridor'."[2][3][4]

On March 12, 2009, Norfolk Southern and Pan Am received STB approval of the deal.[5] As of May 1, 2009, each of the two companies owns 50% of Pan Am Southern. PAR's trackage between Ayer, Massachusetts and Mechanicville, New York was transferred to PAS and continues to be operated and maintained by PAR's Springfield Terminal Railway Company subsidiary. NS transferred to PAS cash and property valued at $137.5 million.[6]

Planned improvements to the route include track and signal upgrades, and expansion of terminals, including new automotive and intermodal terminals constructed in Ayer, Massachusetts and Mechanicville, New York.[7]

Planned lines are as follows:[8]

Future[]

As a result of CSX's agreement to purchase Pan Am Railways in 2021, the future of PAS is uncertain. CSX would inherit PAR's 50 percent stake in Pan Am Southern, with competitor Norfolk Southern owning the remaining half.[9] While CSX and NS reached an agreement to have Pan Am Southern be operated by a new Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary named the Berkshire and Eastern Railroad, the United States Department of Justice has recommended that the Surface Transportation Board require CSX to sell its stake in PAS as a condition of the merger to prevent a reduction in competition.[10]

Railroads in New England, including Vermont Rail System and Canadian Pacific Railway, have objected to the plan for G&W to operate PAS, as it would give G&W an even more extensive network in the region than it currently has.[9] Canadian Pacific in particular asserted in a filing to the STB that the purchase would give CSX control of both of the primary east to west rail lines in New England and leave other companies at a competitive disadvantage.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ Railinc, Search MARKs, accessed October 2009
  2. ^ "Pan Am Railways and Norfolk Southern Create the Patriot Corridor to Improve Rail Service and Expand Capacity in New York and New England" (Press release). Norfolk Southern Corp. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  3. ^ a b Norfolk Southern Railway and Pan Am Railways (2008-05-16). "Introducing the Patriot Corridor" (PDF). Norfolk Southern Corp. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  4. ^ The Associated Press (2008-05-15). "2 railroad freight companies combine effort". AP Business News. Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  5. ^ US Board Approves Joint Ownership Of Pan Am Southern LLC, CNN Money, http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200903102012DOWJONESDJONLINE000756_FORTUNE5.htm[permanent dead link], 3/12/09
  6. ^ Pan Am Railways and Norfolk Southern Receive Approval to Improve Rail Service in New York and New England, http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Media/News%20Releases/2009/pan-am.html, 3/12/09
  7. ^ "Pan Am's second takeoff". Trains Magazine. Kalmbach Publishing. January 2010.
  8. ^ Surface Transportation Board, NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY, PAN AM RAILWAYS, INC., ET AL.-JOINT CONTROL AND OPERATING/POOLING AGREEMENTS-PAN AM SOUTHERN LLC Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine, June 26, 2008
  9. ^ a b Luczak, Marybeth (March 18, 2021). "Vermont Rail System Contests Pan Am/CSX Deal". Railway Age. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  10. ^ Stephens, Bill (August 26, 2021). "Justice Department raises competitive concerns over CSX-Pan Am merger". Trains. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  11. ^ "Rail News - CP: CSX-Pan Am merger threatens competition on Hoosac Tunnel route". Progressive Railroading. September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
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