FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — Maj. Gen. Richard Cody and U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield drove golden spikes Friday to commemorate completion of a Fort Campbell rail connection to the CSX main line.

        Gen. Cody, commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, said the rail spur and other improvements on post have cut the overall deployment time for the 101st in half.

        “We have facilities on post to marshal 250 rail cars for loading at one time,” he said. “This (rail spur) means we can now load up real quickly as well as bypassing downtown Hopkinsville.”

        Mr. Whitfield, a Republican from Kentucky's 1st District, said the completion of the connector was expedited due to the Sept. 11 attacks. Fort Campbell troops might be needed, he said.

        “In anticipation, we wanted to be ready,” he said.

        As well as the railroad, the division has also increased the number of airplanes that can be loaded at one time at Campbell Army Airfield and reduced the “strategic lift requirement” of the division by almost a third since the last major deployment to Saudi Arabia in 1990, Gen. Cody said.

        The $16 million Fort Campbell rail project consists of about two miles of main line track plus additional sidings to store rail cars between Fort Campbell and Hopkinsville.

        It was originally scheduled to be complete in December. However, Army officials authorized spending an extra $285,000 to complete the project early.

        The rail spur removes a serious bottleneck in the deployment strategy for troops and equipment from Fort Campbell. Previous rail connections were made through downtown switches, with a daily capacity of only about 95 cars.

        With the yet-to-be-completed sidings, Army officials say they can move as many as 275 cars a day loaded with combat and support equipment.

        The Army touts the 101st as a rapid deployment division, which can be deployed anywhere in the world in 36 hours.

        However, during the Gulf War, when the division made heavy use of the downtown switching system, the first Fort Campbell troops reached Saudi Arabia five days after receiving deployment orders on Aug. 10, 1990.

Apology follows offer to hijack victims' families
Concrete cracking at stadium
Agencies sweat out fund drive
Flyboys keep My Gal Sal in their hearts
Officials ask God for guidance at Red Mass
Police can air ideas in private
Police investigate 3 bank robberies
Tristate A.M. Report
UC loses $11.2M from subsidy
MCNUTT: Warren County Witches' persecution examined
SAMPLES: Displays oddly comforting
Court may reconsider school funding
Sheppard family won't auction handkerchiefs
Spiff up your state Web sites, political parties advised
Tugs can't free freighter
Witness: Fantasy could turn real
Best bands show off brass
Industry reps miss meeting on mining rules
Kenton Co. considers more security
Kentucky News Briefs
New rail link boosts readiness at post
Outdoor education area for blind, disabled
Schools's garden is growing peace