The Illinois Western Railroad Company was created when its principals realized the potential of attracting new business to a 900+ acre site only 45 miles from downtown St. Louis which could be served by a short line railroad with both eastern and western Class I railroad connections plus an interstate highway. The topography of the site is favorable for development. Utilities are either in place or close by and there is a good labor supply, in the St.Louis area.The purchase of a 150-acre site in the northwest quadrant of the intersection of the Conrail and Burlington Northern railroads was the beginning of the plan to develop this area. The subsequent merger of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe railroads into BNSF greatly increases the benefits available to prospects for the site, as does the further granting of trackage rights to BNSF over parts of the Union Pacific-Southern Pacific system as part of the UP-SP merger. The Illinois Western Railroad will offer local rail users lower operating costs as well as neutral access to CSX and BNSF. In the uncertain environment of further consolidation among the Class I railroads, ILW believes that its two connections will remain separate and competitive entities for the forseeable future. Because of this choice between connecting rail carriers, this site will become one of the most select in the country for competitive rail service. Those businesses using the short line rail service will see additional benefits resulting from local management of the railroad including local billing, car tracing, loss and damage settlements and rate participation. As a line haul carrier, ILW divisions are absorbed by the connecting carriers while ILW remains a participant in the ratemaking process that is crucial in getting good rates in today's deregulated rail market. As industries locate in the business parks, the Illinois Western Railroad will be poised to offer competitive rates to those industries and build spurs to them.
Two of the remaining seven Class I railroads in the United States, CSX and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, pass directly through Greenville and Smithboro, respectively, crossing at Smithboro. The Illinois Western is confident that these two rail lines will remain active as the consolidation of the rail industry continues. BNSF has 31,000 miles of track blanketing the U.S. west of the Mississippi River. CSX covers Northeast, Southeast and Midwest as well as points in eastern Canada
The option to use CSX and BNSF would be a major asset to any shipper using rail service. Not only would such a shipper have direct access to virtually the entire nation, but it would also reap the benefits of lower prices and better overall service as a result of the competition between the two railroads.
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For More Information on the Illinois Western Railroad Please E-mail Charles Barenfanger
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