Yaphank Freight Facility Reports Uptick In Shipments

YAPHANK, NY – The Brookhaven Rail Terminal had an increase in freight car shipments in 2021, marking a return to near pre-pandemic levels.

President Andrew Kaufman reported an almost 10 percent spike in the number of freight cars rolling into the Yaphank-based transload terminal, to 2,908 last year from 2,649 in 2020, according to Long Island Business News.

The increase in shipments signals a near return to levels prior to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2,938 shipments in 2019, LIBN reports.

Kaufman evaluates the uptick in shipments as a sign of improved economic activity on Long Island, commenting in a company statement:

“These numbers offer genuine insight into the health of our Long Island economy because shipments are based on market demand. The 2021 count compares to 2020 when we saw 2,649 incoming rail cars as the economy cooled and supply chain issues became apparent. What these latest numbers reflect is that the Island’s economy is resilient and has regained the momentum it lost when COVID dictated the health of the market.”

Brookhaven Rail Terminal is a privately-funded terminal, on approximately 30 acres, providing shipping, warehouse and logistic services of various commodities, particularly bulk flour and lumber for various Long Island companies.

In its first year of operation, the terminal handled nearly 500 freight cars, a number that climbed to 2,000 cars in 2014, LIBN reported in 2015.