Northborne Partners Advises Sierra Railroad Company, a Portfolio Company of Ridgewood Infrastructure, on its Acquisition of Central Valley Ag Transport
17 March 2026, Minneapolis: Northborne Partners today announced that it served as the exclusive financial advisor to Sierra Railroad Company (“Sierra” or the “Company”), a portfolio company of Ridgewood Infrastructure, on its acquisition of Central Valley Ag Transport (“CVAT”). Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 1897, Sierra is a California-based short line rail platform providing freight rail, switching, storage and transloading services to a diversified customer base across key essential industrial, agricultural and energy supply chains. Sierra Northern Railway (“SNR”), a subsidiary of Sierra Railroad Company, owns and operates the Company’s freight rail business and provides switching, storage and transloading services across approximately 130 miles of track in California.
CVAT is an owner and operator of agricultural products transload facilities serving customers along SNR’s rail network. The acquisition of CVAT strengthens Sierra’s platform by vertically integrating agricultural transload capabilities that are essential to California’s dairy industry.
In a concurrent transaction, Northborne also advised Sierra on its sale to Ridgewood Infrastructure, a leading investment firm focused on essential infrastructure in the United States.
Ben Marks, Managing Director at Northborne commented, “The acquisition of CVAT is a highly strategic step for Sierra as it continues to build a differentiated short line rail platform. By vertically integrating critical transload capabilities, Sierra enhances service to its dairy and agricultural customers while driving greater volumes across its rail network. We were proud to work alongside Sierra to facilitate both the acquisition of CVAT and the concurrent sale of the Company to Ridgewood Infrastructure, positioning Sierra for long-term growth.”
Northborne is the leading middle market advisor to businesses in the rail & rail services industry. This transaction marks Northborne’s 16th completed rail-related transaction in the past four years.
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