COLT Railroad

Columbia Terminal Railroad

Experience the personalized commitment of a community-owned and operated short line for your shipping needs!

COLT (Columbia Terminal) is a short line railroad owned by the City of Columbia. It is currently operated by Columbia Water and Light. COLT provides service to Columbia from the main rail line in Centralia. The railroad was bought in 1987 from Norfolk Southern when they decided to no longer serve Columbia. Today the railroad handles over 1500 cars a year.

Business inquiries: email COLT or call (573) 874-7325.

COLT Service Area

COLT offers reliable, energy-efficient, cost-competitive transportation service to any location in the mid-Missouri area.

From Columbia to Centralia the rail line passes through gently rolling agricultural areas and the towns of Brown Station and Hallsville. The line is generally parallel to State Highway B to Hallsville and State Highway 124 to Centralia.
In Columbia, the rail line is located just west of the Highway B industrial area, crosses Highway 63 approximately 2.5 miles north of Interstate 70 and ends south of Rogers Street near the center of town.
Map of the COLT railroad

Not directly on our rail line?

Businesses looking for cost effective rail service in the mid-Missouri area who also need storage and/or truck delivery can turn to the COLT Transload.

The COLT Transload can load/unload all types of rail cars, provide warehousing and distribution, packaging, product certification, and many other services, including 'just in time' delivery through their fleet of company owned, leased and brokered units.

COLT Transload facility includes:

Environmentally controlled storage
83,000 square feet under one roof
Rail spur runs directly into building
15 car rail siding
10 truck-high dock doors
4 truck bays for inside loading
4 additional truck ramps for inside loading
Six 6,000 pound, one 20,000, and one 30,000 pound capacity forklifts
One 30-ton overhead crane

Shippers located in the COLT area work directly with the Norfolk Southern Railroad for car supply, tariffs, billing, collections and general marketing. If desired, COLT management will provide assistance in developing these competitive arrangements.

Download the COLT Fiscal Year 2008 annual report in a PDF file
Be safe at railroad crossings! Visit Missouri's Operation Lifesaver Web site
COLT Railroad Advisory Board