regional and short line railroads gil wilson rail operations specialist txdot rail division
TRANSCRIPT
Regional and
Short Line Railroads
Gil WilsonRail Operations Specialist
TxDOT Rail Division
Definitions
• Class 1 – Over $401.4 million in annual revenue• Regional: Operating >350 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
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
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
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
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
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
Typical track conditions pre-abandonment
Typical track conditions pre-abandonment
Typical track conditions pre-abandonment
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
TxDOT & Short linesTxDOT & 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