3i-backed Regional Rail, a leading owner and operator of short-line freight railroads across North America, has acquired the Massachusetts Central Railroad (“MCER” or the “Company”), a 28-mile railroad in Massachusetts. MCER provides freight-hauling, storage, and transload services to a diverse set of customers across a variety of end-markets, including waste, chemicals & plastics, and lumber. The acquisition also includes Wildwood Reload, which provides warehousing and transloading services to industrial customers in the region. The acquisition further expands Regional Rail’s North American network, which now includes 18 railroads across 10 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces.

Al Sauer, President and CEO, Regional Rail, commented:

“We are excited to welcome the Massachusetts Central team to Regional Rail. We look forward to building on their track record of high-quality service and working together to support customers and expand service opportunities.”

Rob Collins, Managing Partner and Head of North American Infrastructure, 3i, commented:

“Massachusetts Central is an excellent addition to Regional Rail and reflects our broader strategy of partnering with established local operators, preserving the legacy built by entrepreneurs and prior owners, and supporting the next phase of growth.”

David Roy, General Manager of Massachusetts Central and Wildwood reload, commented:

“Regional Rail is the right long-term partner for Massachusetts Central and Wildwood Reload. Its short-line railroad experience and commitment to local service will help strengthen relationships with customers, employees, and communities while creating new opportunities for the business. All of us here at MassCentral and Wildwood Reload are excited to be part of Regional Rail and look forward to the future.”

Since partnering in July 2019, 3i and Regional Rail have grown from three railroads in the Northeast to eighteen freight-railroad operations located across North America. The company provides freight transportation, car-storage, and transloading services across the United States and western Canada. In addition to freight services, Regional Rail provides railroad-crossing signal design, construction, inspection, and maintenance services to a diverse base of short-line and industrial customers in over 20 U.S. states via the company’s Diamondback Signal subsidiary.

-Ends-

Download this press release 

For further information, contact: