Alabama Southern Railroad building second rail yard in Tuscaloosa

Tuscaloosa is getting a second major rail yard via Alabama Southern Railroad, bringing new jobs and new investment in the area, the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority announced Thursday.

The company is investing nearly $10 million in a new rail yard facility at the Tuscaloosa County Airport Industrial Park, which will support operations already happening at the company’s current facility near downtown Tuscaloosa. This second facility will offer extra capacity for existing and future customers and will also reduce traffic concerns surrounding the downtown facility.

Construction is slated to begin this summer.

“We are thrilled to announce the expansion of our rail footprint in Tuscaloosa, which will provide critical capacity to meet the growing demands of our existing customer base and facilitate future growth opportunities,” said company sales director Cody Gilliland in a statement. “This additional infrastructure investment underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional rail service quality and customer satisfaction. By enhancing rail service fluidity, our customers will benefit from greater efficiency and reliability while decreasing congestion in West Tuscaloosa.”

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said this move is a boon for the area, but especially for residents of West Tuscaloosa.

“The Alabama Southern Railroad’s additional rail yard means more jobs and the reduction of train traffic in West Tuscaloosa,” Maddox said in a statement. “This project has required a great deal of planning and coordination, but the end result is well worth it for Tuscaloosa.”

You can learn more about the announcement right here.