By Michael Richter
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Union Railroad Company, a subsidiary of Transtar, LLC, opened the latest North American railroad freight car shop in Duquesne’s industrial district.
The facility was constructed through a public/private partnership with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission as part of its construction of the Mon Fayette Expressway.
The new repair shop has a storage capacity of 500 railcars and connections to CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, Canadian National and several regional carriers. The facility can perform heavy repairs onsite and provide mobile repair services to support the needs of the rail industry in the region, according to Transtar officials.
“We’re excited to expand our railcar repair capabilities in southwestern Pennsylvania,” said Jonathan Carnes, Transtar president and CEO. “The new car shop will strengthen the growing Transtar network of rail operations across North America and provide a more efficient ‘one-stop-shop’ for customers and railcar owners.”
URR held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday to mark the opening of the railcar repair facility. State Rep. Matthew Gergely, D-McKeesport, state Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, state Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Bridgeville, Allegheny County Councilman Bob Macey, along with representatives from the Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce were in attendance.
In a social media post, Gergely said the opening of the new facility was a special moment to him.
“My father was a very proud union member of the USW and served as a train engineer for U.S. Steel. This event resonates deeply with my family’s history and values,” Gergely wrote. “This facility is not just a testament to the successful partnership between the Union Railroad and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission but also a beacon of progress, bringing new jobs and opportunities to our area. It ensures the continuation of safe, reliable rail freight transportation, which is critical to our local economy and the Mon Valley’s major industries.”
URR operates 128 miles of track in a 10-mile radius of the Pittsburgh area.