NEW: Murray Joins CSX for Opening of New Westborough Facility

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray joined CSX, Westborough Town Manager Jim Malloy and local businesses to celebrate the opening of CSX’s TRANSFLO facility in Westborough on Tuesday.

TRANSFLO, an affiliate of CSX, relocated its bulk commodity transfer facility from Beacon Park Yard in Boston as part of the $100 million agreement between Massachusetts and CSX to strengthen the state’s commuter rail and freight network.

“We reached a major milestone in freight and commuter rail service in finalizing the agreement between the Commonwealth and CSX,” said Murray.

“By strategically planning the relocation of the TRANSFLO facility from Beacon Park Yard to this new state-of-the-art facility in Westborough, we are opening up opportunities for improved freight services while supporting businesses in the MetroWest region, Commonwealth, and across New England.”

The TRANSFLO facility receives bulk shipments of commodities like corn syrup, plastic pellets and industrial commodities by rail, which are then transfered to trucks for delivery to businesses in the Commonwealth and New England that do not have a direct rail connection. At Tuesday's event, officials and customers toured the new facility, which is twice as large as its previous Boston facility and is located on the existing footprint of a former automotive terminal owned by CSX. The $20 million investment in Westborough created approximately 106 construction jobs, with plans for 8 full-time permanent positions to remain in the yard.

“We are pleased to be part of the economic fabric of Westborough and hope the relocation of this facility encourages other businesses to follow suit. This is also one step further in the realization of the agreement between CSX and the Commonwealth and is an example of how we can work together to better improve freight rail within the Commonwealth and beyond,” said Lisa A. Mancini, CSX’s senior vice present and chief administrative officer.

“This new TRANSFLO facility expands the opportunity for businesses in Massachusetts to benefit from the advantages offered by efficient, economical and environmentally sound rail freight transportation,” said Derrick Smith, CSX’s vice president-emerging markets.

"We are pleased that CSX has invested over $20 million into this facility in our town at a site that has been underutilized for several years," said Jim Malloy, Town Manager of Westborough. "This project allows improvements to the commuter rail system that benefits the entire MetroWest area and provides economic development opportunities, including encouraging other businesses to relocate to our town."

The relocation of facilities from the Beacon Park Yard in Boston to Westborough is part of the agreement between CSX and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts first reached in 2009 and completed in multiple phases in October of this year. The two parties agreed on a comprehensive transportation plan to expand commuter and freight rail service in the Commonwealth, strengthen the state’s transportation infrastructure and improve the state’s position in domestic and international economic markets by enhancing the flow of product shipments.

To support expanded commuter rail service on the Worcester to Boston line, CSX and its affiliates are relocating several facilities from Beacon Park Yard in Boston. In addition to Westborough, CSX is relocating its intermodal operations from Beacon Park Yard to a modern, expanded intermodal facility in Worcester. The company also expanded its intermodal facility in West Springfield.