LaCrosse, IN – October 22, 2026 – Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad Company (CKIN), a Pinsly railroad, will receive $6.8 million through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program for CKIN’s Northwest Indiana Rail Connectivity and Expansion Project (NICE Project). The Federal Railroad Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
CKIN will provide the 30% non-Federal match for the NICE Project, which will replace ties, rehabilitate freight rail bridges, renew at-grade crossings, and construct one mile of new siding.
“This investment is great news for northwest Indiana and will help strengthen our state’s rail infrastructure, improve connectivity, and support economic growth,” said Senator Todd Young. “Reliable freight rail service is essential to Indiana’s manufacturers, farmers, and businesses. I was proud to support this project and look forward to seeing the benefits it brings to Hoosier communities.”
“Our partnership with Keystone Cooperative on the NICE Project shows how strategic rail investment can benefit the communities we serve,” said Cassie Dull, Chief Commercial Officer. “The NICE Project will improve freight reliability and capacity for LaPorte County businesses and the regional agricultural industry while supporting economic growth. We appreciate the strong local support and thank Senators Todd Young and Jim Banks, Representative Rudy Yakym, State Senator Ed Charbonneau, State Representative and House Roads and Transportation Committee Chair Jim Pressel, and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) for their leadership.”
Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad provides freight service in LaPorte County, Indiana across 28 miles of track connecting grain elevators, agricultural producers, and rural industries to the national rail network through NS and CSX. It is owned by Pinsly Railroad Company, a short line railroad holding company that owns 10 short line railroads across the country: Camp Chase Railway; Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad Company; Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad; Georgiana & Andalusia Railroad; Grenada Railroad; Hondo Railway; Kankakee, Beaverville and Southern Railroad Company; North Florida Industrial Railroad; Pioneer Valley Railroad; and Vermilion Valley Railroad Company.
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Photo by Keith Burkey.