SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pacific Imperial Railroad today announced an update to its operations, as well as changes to its management team. On December 20, 2012, Pacific Imperial signed a 99-year lease with the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway Company ("SD & AE") and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board ("MTS") to operate the Desert Line, which provides Pacific Imperial the sole rights to run rail freight between the border crossing San Ysidro (between the U.S. and Mexico traveling south), and the border crossing at Tecate and Division (south of Campo) between Mexico and the U.S. traveling north. The Desert Line is uniquely positioned to service approximately 800 manufacturing facilities in proximity to the rail, the vast majority of which are owned by Fortune 500 companies.
Since signing the lease, the company has taken significant steps toward improving the Desert Line. The company has been engaging engineering, financial and strategic partners to work toward upgrading the Line to the highest standards. On February 1, 2013, the company named Ernest J. Dahlman, III Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Dahlman founded and served as the President of Dahlman Rose & Company, a full-service investment bank focused on transportation, infrastructure and commodity-related industries. He brings significant industry and financial experience to the team, and a proven track record of advising and raising capital for public and private companies.
Donald Stoecklein, President of Pacific Imperial, stated, "We are very excited to have Ernie join the team. PIR has a significant opportunity to service the Maquiladoras, also known as Maquila or twin plants area of Mexico. Our goal is to provide the fastest, most cost efficient and safest opportunity for these companies to move freight. Ernie’s background advising companies in our sector and others on strategic matters is a significant addition to our team."
The company has been engaging strategic partners to work toward upgrading the Line and make it fully operational. Mr. Dahlman stated, "We have a significant opportunity to service a broad customer base in this area with our Desert Line. As we upgrade the rail and improve our operations, my goal is to have our customer base running PIR at full capacity. The customer and industry feedback has been tremendous so far. I'm happy to be a part of this incredibly exciting project, and to work toward providing the highest level of service for our customers."
ABOUT PACIFIC IMPERIAL RAIL
Pacific Imperial Railroad, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is the owner and operator of a shortline and freight railroad. The railroad PIR operates is on approximately 130 miles of track, reaching from San Diego, California to Imperial County, California, and crossing through the Tijuana-Tecate region of Baja California, Mexico and eastern San Diego County, U.S.A. The 130 miles of track extends north and east from International Border (junction called Division) to Plaster City, where it joins the Union Pacific (UP) Line from El Centro, California.