Staten Island ExpressRail performs well in first year

THE ExpressRail Staten Island ship-to-rail facility handled more than 44,000 containers and removed about 70,000 trucks from local roads during its first year of operation, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).

Opened last July, the US$26 million facility can process 100,000 containers a year. So far this year it has handled more than 34,000 containers, exceeding forecasts, reports US-based Progressive Railroading.

It said the number of containers handled monthly at the facility has risen from 451 in July 2007 to more than 5,000 in June 2008.

"Putting cargo containers on trains means fewer trucks on the road, which is good news for drivers and good news for the environment," said PANYNJ executive director Chris Ward in a statement.