Railroad Industry Benefits From Development of Utica Shale
As shale gas development continues to fuel economic activity in Ohio, one group of companies already experiencing business growth is the railroad industry. In December 2012, Hannibal Real Estate and Carload Express announced plans to revive a short line in Monroe County, Ohio. Now, more railway companies, such as Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation, are touting the benefits of Utica gas wells for their short line rails. Not only are trains hauling sand and other aggregates to development sites, but wet gas and oil production presents the opportunity to haul products from the well site to industrial centers. The demand for rail services is expected to increase in 2013 and 2014 as the number of wells drilled in the Utica grows.