By Railfan & Railroad Staff

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board announced on January 2, that it had approved Carload Express’ plan to acquire Maryland & Delaware Railroad. Carload Express, which operates former Norfolk Southern trackage in Delaware as the Delmarva Central, will be able to assume control of the neighboring short line on January 31.

The plan includes outright acquisition of some track on the Snow Hill line and operating state-owned trackage on the Massey and Federalsburg lines. It’s expected that the Snow Hill line will be folded into Delmarva Central, while the other two routes will retain the MDDE name under the new operator. 

Parent company Carload Express Inc. operates two other railroads in addition to the Delmarva Central — Allegheny Valley Railroad and Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad, serving western Pennsylvania. MDDE began operations in 1977 to operate several former Penn Central branch lines that were not included in the formation of Conrail. It is headquartered in Federalsburg, Md.