Pinsly Railroad Company (2024) Explained

Pinsly Railroad Company
Former Name:Gulf & Atlantic Railways (2023-2024)
RailUSA (2018-2023)
Industry:Rail transport
Foundation:October 2018
Location City:Jacksonville, Florida
Location Country:United States
Area Served:Florida, Mississippi, Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio
Parent:Macquarie Infrastructure Partners
Subsid:Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad
Grenada Railroad
Chesapeake & Indiana Railroad
Camp Chase Railroad
Vermilion Valley Railroad
Pioneer Valley Railroad
Hondo Railway
Homepage:https://pinsly.com/

Pinsly Railroad Company is an American short line railroad holding company, that owns and operates 6 railroads in the United States. Formerly known as Gulf & Atlantic Railways, the company rebranded to Pinsly Railroad Company on March 1, 2024. Pinsly has a rail network of 767 miles.

History

The original Pinsly Railroad Company dated back to 1938 and is one of the oldest short-line holding companies in U.S. history. Today's Pinsly was founded as RailUSA in October 2018 by private equity firm Equity Group Investments.

RailUSA first purchased the Grenada Railroad from Iowa Pacific with plans to restore and re-open the 87-mile southern portion of the line, which had been closed since 2011. Another investment followed in 2019 with the purchase of Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad from CSX.[1] [2]

In April 2022, RailUSA was purchased by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners.[3] On March 1, 2023, RailUSA announced they would relocate to Jacksonville, Florida, and change their name to Gulf & Atlantic Railways, showing focus on new growth.[4]

In May 2023, G&AR acquired 3 small railroads from Midwestern & Bluegrass Rail, the Camp Chase Railroad, Chesapeake & Indiana Railroad and Vermilion Valley Railroad, and increased its portfolio from two to five short lines.[5] In August 2023, Macquarie Infrastructure Partners reached an agreement with the Pinsly Railroad Company to acquire a 6th short-line, Pioneer Valley Railroad, through its subsidiary Gulf & Atlantic Railways.[6] This acquisition also included a warehousing company, Railroad Distribution Services. Towards the end of 2023, G&AR announced they would acquire the Northern Indiana Railroad Company (NIRC), which maintained the land assets of the Chesapeake & Indiana Railroad (CKIN).

In February 2024, G&AR announced they would seek to merge NIRC into the CKIN.[7] On May 1, 2024, the company rebranded to Pinsly Railroad Company. On August 20, 2024, they entered into a definitive agreement, subject to regulatory approval, to acquire Hondo Railway.[8]

Railroads

NameMarkClassHoldingTrackageState(s)Notes
Grenada RailroadGRYR III Acquired - 2018a 235.8sortable=onNaNsortable=onMS
Florida Gulf and Atlantic RailroadFGA III Acquired - 2019a 438.1sortable=onNaNsortable=onFL
Camp Chase RailwayCAMY III Acquired - May 2023a 17.1sortable=onNaNsortable=onOH
Chesapeake & Indiana RailroadCKIN III Acquired - May 2023a 34.9sortable=onNaNsortable=onIN
Vermilion Valley RailroadVVRR III Acquired - May 2023a 9.3sortable=onNaNsortable=onIN/IL
Pioneer Valley RailroadPVRR III Acquired - Aug. 2023a 27sortable=onNaNsortable=onMA
Hondo RailwayHRR III Acquired - Aug 2024a 5sortable=onNaNsortable=onTX

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20210303013952/https://railusa.com/about-us/our-company/ Our Company
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20191030070232/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/12/21/2018-27524/florida-gulf-and-atlantic-railroad-llc-acquisition-and-operation-exemption-with-interchange Florida Gulf Atlantic Railroad, Acquisition and Operation Exemption with interchange
  3. https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/australian-infrastructure-fund-to-acquire-railusa/ Australian infrastructure fund to acquire RailUSA
  4. https://www.railwayage.com/freight/short-lines-regionals/for-railusa-new-name-new-phase-of-growth/
  5. https://www.railwayage.com/freight/short-lines-regionals/gar-to-acquire-three-more-small-roads/?RAchannel=home
  6. News: Macquarie Infrastructure Partners to acquire Massachusetts short line . Trains News Wire . August 29, 2023 . August 29, 2023.
  7. https://www.railwayage.com/freight/short-lines-regionals/ckin-nird-seek-to-merge/?RAchannel=home
  8. Web site: Hondo Railway to be Acquired by Short Line Operator Pinsly Railroad. August 28, 2024. Texas Rail Advocates. September 7, 2024.