By Town Vines Staff
The Hoosier Southern Railroad, operated by the Perry County Port Authority, has been awarded an $11.6 million federal RAISE grant to upgrade approximately 14 miles of aging rail infrastructure. The project will replace 120-year-old track with modern rail capable of supporting heavier freight cars, boosting capacity for the region’s manufacturing and logistics sectors.
The Hoosier Southern Railroad is a 22-mile short-line railroad that connects the Tell City River Port on the Ohio River to Norfolk Southern Railway at Lincoln City. Since its establishment in 1991, when the Port Authority purchased the unused line from Norfolk Southern to prevent abandonment, the railroad has played a vital role in attracting industry to Perry County.
The grant funding, announced in 2023, represents a significant investment in the county’s transportation infrastructure. Combined with the Tell City River Port, the upgraded railroad will provide enhanced multimodal transportation options for businesses across Perry and Spencer counties, supporting continued economic growth in southern Indiana.