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Regional and Short Line Railroads

Regional and Short Line Railroads. Gil Wilson Rail 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:

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Regional and Short Line Railroads

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  1. Regional and Short Line Railroads Gil Wilson Rail Operations Specialist TxDOT Rail Division

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. Typical track conditions pre-abandonment

  9. Typical track conditions pre-abandonment

  10. Typical track conditions pre-abandonment

  11. 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

  12. 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 TxDOT & Short lines

  13. Gil.Wilson@TxDOT.gov

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