News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A Kentucky-based railroad company has acquired the Nashville & Eastern Railroad and related entities.
R.J. Corman Spokesperson Todd Bivins says the company will take over operations of the railroad beginning in January.
“The Nashville & Eastern family of companies have a strong leadership and proven history of successful operations for 30 years,” “The breadth and history of our successful freight operations is going to be a nice compliment to the safe and efficient operations that have been provided by [Transit Solutions Group] for the Music City Star for what I think has been about 12 years.”
Bivins says the company will simply be expanding their operations with the acquisition and the Upper Cumberland likely won’t see much change, if anything.
“Our entire suite of services will be offered and utilized. This acquisition is going to grow our shortline operations by 15 percent in both track mileage and increase car loads, as well as introducing commuter car rails to our suite of services,” Bivins says. “We have two shortline services operating in the state, two industrial switching facilities, and one railroad services response division there in Nashville.”
Bivins says it’s unknown as to whether the company will expand the Transit Solutions Group and Music City Star’s commuter services to the Upper Cumberland.
“That commuter service [runs] between Lebanon and Nashville,” Bivins says. “Safety is going to continue to be our main focus as it’s historically been for TSG and we don’t foresee any changes to the operation at this time.”
NERR was founded in 1986 after Founder and Company President William Drunsic purchased and restored nearly 110 miles of railroad between Nashville and Monterey.
The R.J. Corman Railroad Company currently operates 11 shortline railroads in nine states, including two in Tennessee. Bivins says the company provides a variety of services including emergency response, track material distribution and construction, and building eco-friendly locomotives.
