Norwich - On Friday, Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Export Assistance Center in Middletown brought together representatives from Genesee and Wyoming and Providence and Worcester Railroad along with a dozen eastern Connecticut companies and economic development officials from the region to discuss ways to integrate freight rail into the firms' business strategies.

With high shipping costs leaving Connecticut manufacturers at a disadvantage, and the New England Central Rail line poised for upgrades thanks to a federal TIGER Grant secured with support from Congressman Courtney, freight rail offers an affordable transportation alternative.

"Today's meeting is another step forward in the ongoing effort to strengthen freight rail in our region," Courtney said. "I have heard from many Connecticut manufacturers that high shipping costs in the northeast leave them at a competitive disadvantage, and we all know that our state's highways are clogged with trucks. Freight rail offers an efficient, cost-effective, and safe alternative."

"Last year, thanks to a strong coalition of eastern Connecticut businesses and officials, we were able to secure a TIGER Grant for upgrades to NECR that will allow fully loaded freight cars to travel the full length of the line - stretching from Groton all the way to Canada. In organizing that advocacy effort, I saw major interest from local companies in adopting freight rail into their business plans, and today's meeting served to connect those companies with the rail provider to discuss their shipping needs, barriers to participation, and changes that can be made to increase utilization of freight rail," Courtney said.

"The mission of the Department of Commerce International Trade Administration is to help USA companies be more competitive in the global marketplace. Freight is a large part of the cost of products. Teaming with Congressman Courtney to educate both the rail lines and the region's companies on how best to work together will assist the companies in reducing freight costs," said Anne Evans, U.S. Department of Commerce District Director.

"We want to get the word out to businesses that upgraded rail service in eastern Connecticut is going to provide them with options to maximize freight while lowering costs and economically for the region, stimulate long term business growth," said Cyrus Gilman, of The Gilman Brothers Co. in Gilman.

In September, Connecticut was awarded $8.2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation's highly competitive Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program to upgrade the NECR line, connecting the Port of New London, which is underutilized as a commercial shipping hub, and towns and businesses through Norwich, Franklin, Willimantic and north to Stafford, before continuing north through New England to Canada.

Since the Connecticut segment of NECR currently does not meet nationwide weight standards, customers are forced to partially load railcars or ship via other means. The project will strengthen the existing rail line to meet new freight standards, including increased weight capacity.

- Lee Howard