Kinston Railroad (KNR), a wholly owned subsidiary of Jaguar Transport Holdings (Jaguar), began rail operations on Aug. 1. KNR acquired leasehold rights to approximately 6 miles of track owned by the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT). The railroad will interchange with Norfolk Southern in Kinston, N.C., and terminates at North Carolina Global TransPark, a 2,500-acre multi-modal industrial and business park.

"We are excited for the opportunity to establish our second operation in North Carolina and grow our partnership with NCDOT," said Stu Towner, CEO of Jaguar. "Connected to a modern industrial park and located in close proximity to multiple deep-water ports, we think this railroad will allow us to provide excellent service to current and future customers and earn the right to grow alongside them and the local community."

Kinston is the ninth shortline railroad for Jaguar, who has partnered with OPTrust, one of Canada's largest pension plans. Other Jaguar railroads include Charlotte Western Railroad, Missouri Eastern Railroad, Cimarron Valley Railroad, Southwestern Railroad, Washington Eastern Railroad, Oregon Eastern Railroad, Texas Eastern Railroad, and West Memphis Base Railroad.