breaking

CSX Opens $495M Baltimore Tunnel, Enables Double-Stack Service to Northeast Corridor

CSX inaugurated the reconstructed Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore, marking the official launch of double-stack rail service at the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore. The $495 million project was completed under a public-private partnership. It expanded tunnel clearance by 18 inches and improved 21 additional locations across Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Double-stack trains began operating through the 131-year-old tunnel in September 2025. The improvements create seamless container capacity from Massachusetts to Florida and into Midwest markets. They eliminate previous routing constraints that forced trains to detour through Selkirk, New York or Hagerstown, Maryland. Maryland contributed $217 million while federal funding totaled $125 million. State officials project the project will generate approximately $1 billion in annual economic benefits while reducing emissions.