Officials Celebrate Newly Renovated Grenada Depot
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
House Speaker Jason White, left, and Rep. Trey Lamar (R-Dist. 8) recently cut the ribbon on the newly renovated Grenada Depot as railroad executives and state officials look on. Also pictured is Larry Hart (left of White), chairman of the North Central Mississippi Regional Railroad Authority.
– Photos by Adam Prestridge © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
By ADAM PRESTRIDGE
The Grenada Star
GRENADA – Hats off once again to Grenada Railroad as it continues to invest its resources in the community, moving full steam ahead to aid in its growth.
In late April, the short-line railroad, operated by Pinsly Railroad Company, celebrated another milestone as railroad executives, along with local, county and state officials gathered in the drizzling rain to officially cut the ribbon on renovations to the historic Grenada Depot located on 1st Street.
Cassie Dull, chief commercial officer for Pinsly, opened the event.
“I’d like to say thank you to everyone that’s contributed to this railroad — to this depot — that’s gotten us to this point,” she began. “So obviously, the state government — the Governor’s Office, Lieutenant Governor, the House of Representatives, the Senate — Larry Hart, NCMRRA (North Central Mississippi Regional Railroad Authority), all of our customers both previous and new.”
Dull went on to thank the counties and communities in which Pinsly operates as well as current and former railroad employees that laid the tracks for success.
“There’s been a significant investment in the railroad itself, including this depot, which we’re excited to celebrate today,” she continued. “We’re well over $60 million of investment directly into the tracks to rehabilitate and expand. That network will continue to grow. We’re very excited about that.”
Pinsly, previously known as Gulf & Atlantic Railways, re-branded to itself in 2024. Pinsly acquired the Grenada Railroad through a lease-purchase agreement with the North Central Mississippi Regional Railroad Authority. The 235-mile Grenada Railroad line runs north and south along the Interstate 55 corridor between Canton, Miss., and Memphis, Tenn.
Following Dull’s remarks, she introduced Hart, chairman of the NCMRRA Board of Directors, who was asked to pray over the event.
“I believe with all my heart that God has been all over this project for these many years,” the former Mayor of Water Valley said. “And for that, we all should be thankful and grateful.”
Hart then said a prayer before introducing Rep. Trey Lamar (R-Dist. 8), who, along with House Speaker Jason White (R-Dist. 48), also in attendance, were instrumental in saving Grenada Railroad from abandonment.
Improvements made by Pinsly along the 235 mile Grenada Railroad line include renovating the depot in Grenada.
“I think the Lord had his hand all over it,” Rep. Lamar said. “There’s no telling how much economic development, how many jobs created, how many jobs saved, how much commerce, that not only has taken place in the last 10-plus years, but the future next 100 years of North Mississippi and it’s the economic status for our state. It’s really amazing. You don’t just tear a railroad up and put it back. You know, that usually just doesn’t happen. So the fact that that happened and we were able to save it back in, you know, 2012 or 2013 is nothing to sneeze at. It’s no small feat.”
Rep. Lamar continued by recognizing the hard work and dedication it took to keep Grenada Railroad moving.
“There are so many people that work tirelessly on a daily basis that have gotten us to this point, the people who have had the foresight, not only in the tracks and the improvements with Pinsly that they’ve made, but the foresight to save this building and to improve it for the future job growth and economic development for Northern Mississippi,” he said. “I’m really excited about that and just thankful to be here.”
Rep. White then spoke for several minutes not only about Grenada Railroad, but state politics that he hopes will aid in projects like Grenada Railroad as well as the state’s taxpayers. However, he first focused on the economic impact of Grenada Railroad.
“I was looking around and it looks like this rail currently today supports over 11,000 jobs in some form or fashion,” he said. “$1.3 billion in gross product moves on this line on an annual basis and a billion dollars of personal income annually has arrived from the line. Those are real, real numbers for this region of our state, which was kind of starting to be hollowed out as things had moved either out of state or offshore or to other booming portions of our state. We were proud that this was able to not only be saved, but all of a sudden start growing in a real way. Certainly that centers around what’s going on here in Grenada and Grenada County.”
Rep. White also spoke of the state’s recent economic “momentum,” something Grenada County felt just a week later with the groundbreaking for SouthPoint Mississippi Industrial Park, the 190-acre industrial park located just off Interstate 55, with an estimated economic impact of $4 billion.
Matthew Harrison, CEO, president and executive director of the Greater Grenada Partnership, recognizes the value in Grenada Railroad when recruiting industrial prospects such as Hollingsworth Companies, owners of SouthPoint.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Pinsly’s investment into the Grenada Railroad — a vital infrastructure asset that continues to strengthen our region’s competitive advantage,” Harrison concluded. “Rail access is a key driver of economic development, and with this investment, along with the recent announcement from the Hollingsworth Companies, Grenada is well-positioned for continued industrial growth and long-term success. These strategic developments are clear signs that our region is open for business and ready to deliver.”
In fact, a few days following the SouthPoint announcement, City of Grenada officials agreed to sell a five-acre parcel of land to Hollingsworth Companies, giving them direct access to Grenada Railroad’s spur.
Following the ribbon cutting, assistant vice president and General Manager of Grenada Railroad Trevor Costilow took those on hand on a tour of the newly renovated depot.
