Regional and Short Line Railroads

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Regional and Short Line Railroads

• Gil Wilson
• Rail Operations Specialist
• TxDOT Rail Division

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Definitions

• Class 1 Over 401.4 million in annual revenue
• Regional Operating gt350 miles and/or
• 40 million - 401.4 million annual revenue
• Short Lines
• Local railroads below regional criteria
• Switching terminal, jointly owned by 2
  railroads or operating within the confines of a
  facility or group of facilities
• Often created as a result of Class 1 abandonment
  proceeding

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National Freight Railroads

• 565 freight railroads nationwide
• Rail carries 16 of national freight tonnage
• Rail freight 92 billion truck VMT on U.S.
  roadways
• Would cost shippers an additional 69 billion to
  ship this tonnage by truck

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Texas Freight Railroads

• 10,743 miles of track (1 in U.S.)
• 44 freight railroads
• Rail freight currently 30-40 million more
  truck-loads per year on Texas roadways
• Over 1 billion in wages paid to Texas railroad
  employees annually

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Texas Short Line Railroads

• 41 regional short line railroads
• Regional 2, operating 1,058 miles of track
• Short Lines 39, operating 1,744 miles of track
• Operating on 26 of track
• Carloads handled 390,000
• Truck equivalents 1,121,000
• Estimated pavement damage savings 49,000,000

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Freight Railroads Impacts

• Economy
• Lower shipping rates higher shipper profits
• Economic development
• Public Safety
• Reduced truck freight on highways
• Highway/rail grade crossings in urban areas
• Safer hazardous materials movements
• Trespasser issues
• Environment
• Locomotive emissions in urban areas
• Increased automotive emissions at grade crossings
• Noise from equipment and locomotive horns

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Abandonments

• 254,000 miles of track in U.S at peak (1916)
• 139,887 miles of track currently (2008)
• Abandonments usually by Class 1, divesting
  unprofitable lines
• Many short lines formed as a result
• Typically deferred maintenance by Class 1prior to
  abandonment
• Poor track conditions at acquisition

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Typical track conditions pre-abandonment
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Typical track conditions pre-abandonment
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Typical track conditions pre-abandonment
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Need for Freight Rail Improvements

• Without rail infrastructure upgrades
• Class 1 rail line capacity issues
• Increased truck freight
• Short line failures
• Limited or o funds for track improvements
• Alternatives for improvements
• Upgrade existing infrastructure
• Tax credits for improvements
• Assumes availability of funds
• Development of new corridors/services

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TxDOT Short lines

• Rail safety inspection program
• Resource agency for assistance
• Assisting short lines with funding applications,
  project development
• Owns approximately 424 miles
• 391 under lease and operating
• Currently rehabilitating South Orient

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Gil.Wilson_at_TxDOT.gov