CSX Transportation Chairman and CEO Michael Ward, left, and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, second from left, reaffirm their commitment to a tunnel project to enable double-stacked freight trains to leave the Port of Baltimore.

With the head of CSX Transportation at his side, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan pledged Monday to reapply for federal funding to retool a tunnel so that the railroad can double-stack containers on lines connecting to the Port of Baltimore.

The port, which is at present reachable only by single-stacked trains, has for more than four years sought a way to accommodate double-stacked trains. In an earlier plan that was later dropped, the port administration planned to create an intermodal terminal at the other end of the tunnel, so that single-stacked trains could carry imported containers there from the port and then load them onto double stacked trains.  

Supporters say the tunnel upgrade would be the final enhancement to a port that is otherwise primed to compete — it already has on-dock rail capability and can accept New Panamax ships, with a 50-foot deep channel and 50-foot berth. The ability to take double-stacked trains would give shippers better access to the Midwest and make it more competitive with the port of New York and New Jersey and Virginia, supporters say.

Contact Hugh R. Morley at Hugh.Morley@ihsmarkit.com and follow him on Twitter: @HughRMorley_JOC.