ROCHELLE, IL – The City of Rochelle and the Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corporation (GREDCO) today announced plans to open a new intermodal container yard in the heart of Rochelle’s industrial park. A groundbreaking event was held at the Rochelle Intermodal Transload Center (RITC) served by the City of Rochelle Railroad (CIR).
The CIR is a city-owned short line railroad that connects businesses and industries to both the Union Pacific (UP) and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Main Line Railroads.
“The Union Pacific Global III Intermodal facility abruptly idled in 2019, leaving local industries with increased transportation costs and shipping delays”, said Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows. “Today, we break ground on a facility that will serve as a cost-effective alternative to moving freight through the heavily congested transportation corridors in Chicago”.
The container yard will be operated by the Burlington Junction Railway (BJRY), Burlington Iowa. The creation of the intermodal container yard is a collaboration between the City of Rochelle, Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corporation (GREDCO), and the BJRY.
Richard Ohlinger, GREDCO President said, “For the past 40 years, GREDCO has been committed to enhancing economic development in the community. We are excited to partner with the city and appreciate their continued commitment to returning intermodal service back to our industries”.
City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh shared, “We are excited to expand the Rochelle Transload Center (RTC), reduce truck traffic, cut drayage costs, and create revenue to the city that provides for expanded public services to our citizens”.
Intermodal service could begin as early as the Spring of 2023. The project includes paving the entrance to the RITC, construction of a 1,100’ x 60’ concrete lifting pad and constructing an intermodal container yard adjacent to the existing transload center.
Jason Anderson, Economic Development Director said, “The addition of intermodal services on the City of Rochelle Railroad, will act as a giant economic development engine that will attract industries who are looking for alternative ways to control the ever-increasing costs associated with moving freight”.
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About the Rochelle Intermodal Transload Center (RITC) The Rochelle Intermodal Transload Center is a rail-truck transload site located on the City of Rochelle Railroad (CIR) in Rochelle, Illinois at the intersections of I-88 and I-39 and the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroads. The facility is near the largest population centers in Illinois: 25 miles south of Rockford IL, 75 miles east of the Quad Cities and 70 miles west of Chicago. In addition to adding intermodal services within the RITC, this facility can handle a variety of shipments including dry bulk, liquid bulk, dimensional, oversize, machinery, metals, and other commodities and products.
About City of Rochelle (CIR) Rail Service The rail system consists of three interchange rail yards, two transloading yards, twelve miles of mainline track. The CIR is capable of handling unit trains which can be stored and switched daily in and out of Rochelle. Along with the RTIC, the City of Rochelle Railroad directly provides switching services to 14 industries that include cold storage, lumber, steel, ethanol, dry food products, and a variety of commodities. Burlington Junction Railway (BJRY) operates the CIR, providing interchange, switching, and transloading services for industries in Rochelle with over six million square feet of Class A industrial space with the capacity to provide transload services to industries throughout Northern Illinois, Eastern Iowa, and Southern Wisconsin.
