The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad and Heniff Transportation Systems, LLC announced an agreement for Heniff to manage rail transloading services at the newly opened $3 million New Orleans Transloading Industrial Park in New Orleans East. The Transloading Industrial Park – which will enhance rail infrastructure, provide multi-modal shipping options, and help shippers move goods more easily between trucks and trains – is located on Terminal Road and on property owned by the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA). The agreement offers Heniff the opportunity to provide multi-modal shipping options for liquid and dry bulk products to existing customers while simultaneously opening new markets. “We’re excited to welcome Heniff as a new NOPB customer at our Transloading Industrial Park in New Orleans East,” said Ronald Wendel, Port NOLA Acting President & CEO and Acting NOPB CEO. “Together we will ensure products are moved more efficiently through the global supply chain while also driving economic growth in and beyond this region.” Heniff, based in Oak Brook, Ill., has a transload network that includes 44 locations across the U.S. where the company handles approximately 20,000 rail cars per year. The Transloading Industrial Park complements Heniff’s liquid bulk service operations that are adjacent to the property. “Together with the NOPB and Port NOLA, we’re very pleased to expand our transloading capabilities within the region,” said Bob Heniff, Heniff Founder & CEO. “The enhanced rail infrastructure and its strategic location offers our company a true competitive edge and service enhancements for our many customers.” Funding sources for the $3 million project include a $1.5M grant from the Louisiana DOTD Shortline Railroad Priority Program, as well as a $1.5M funding match from the NOPB. “This project completion highlights the impact of the state’s investment in the Shortline Rail Improvement Program as it is one of the original awards from the launch of the program in 2022,” said Julia Fisher-Cormier, Commissioner for LADOTD, Office of Multimodal Commerce. “The NOPB’s inland connections cannot be overstated, our state’s connectivity ensures that goods arrive at homes across the nation, businesses efficiently move their products, and that Louisiana maintains its relevance and position as an economic driver for the state and region. We look forward to providing additional funding to further solidify Port NOLA and NOPB’s vital role in the global supply chain.” The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) is a modern multimodal gateway for global commerce and an in-demand cruise port — delivering seamless, integrated logistics solutions between river, rail, and road. With its location on the Mississippi River near the Gulf of Mexico, Port NOLA affords access to 30-plus major inland hubs such as Dallas, Memphis, Chicago, and Canada via 14,500 miles of waterways, 6 Class I railroads and interstate roadways. The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) is a Class III switching railroad serving the Port of New Orleans, local customers, and the New Orleans Rail Gateway. The NOPB connects six Class I railroads to each other and to properties in and near the Port complex. “We are proud to work with an industry leader like Heniff as we grow our network,” said Tomeka Watson Bryant, NOPB General Manager. “Multi-modal infrastructure improvements like the NOPB Transloading Industrial Park not only allow us to move freight more efficiently through our global gateway, but it also helps us grow the economy and bring more jobs to the region.”