Toyota Motor Corporation says any site it selects for a new auto plant ideally would have rail access from at least two carriers.
Texas, for one, needs time to resolve a dispute between two rail carriers that, unless settled, would prevent its San Antonio site from having service from more than one rail company.
Mississippi's proposed site, 48 miles south of Memphis in Panola County, is in an area currently served by only one carrier, Canadian National Railway.
Arkansas's proposed site, ten miles west of Memphis, has five rail carriers' lines within several miles and a Union Pacific intermodal rail and truck shipping facility less than a mile from the site.
Toyota spokesman Don Sieger says dual rail access has worked very well at the automaker's other North American plants. He says it's an important factor in site selection.
