Large Scale Central

$15+ Million dollar investment in Des Moines train facilities

General Discussion
#1

Just fyi, saw this by accident about about an infrastructure investment in Iowa to develop their train operations/facilities [link].

Here’s a snippet from the article:

Des Moines officials say a long-awaited $15.6 million railroad facility is set to be built soon and will aid central Iowa’s economy.

The Des Moines Register reports that an $11.2 million federal grant for the project was awarded last week to the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Local officials say the facility will create a more robust rail system and lower shipping costs.

Also known as a railport, the facility will enable materials to be transferred from semitrailers to trains, which ship products at a lower cost.

#2

Is it Des Moines building this? and what railroad will be the beneficary of all this new business?

#3

Tucson has a Port also. They built a loop of track next to the mainline where cars can be accessed. There are more yards too, for storage / access. There’s one area where tanker trucks unload tank cars.

It’s an inter face between RRs and customers, not necessarily one beneficiary. If your plant isn’t serviced by rail, send a truck to the Port and get/ship your stuff.

#4

But Tucson is only served by UP so BNSF would have to have cars interchanged in Phoenix to get any benefit, so UP still gets the main benefit from the Port

#5

Pete;

What does BNSF have to do with this?

Correction; What does BNSF have to do with Tucson’s port?

#6

John Caughey said:

What does BNSF have to do with this?

Maybe Warren Buffet bought Iowa too!

#7

Pete Lassen said:

Is it Des Moines building this? and what railroad will be the beneficary of all this new business?

A moment’s playing in Google found: https://www.dmgov.org/Government/CityCouncil/WorkshopDocuments/20141020%20Des%20Moines%20Area%20Rail%20Port%20Study.pdf

DES MOINES AREA RAIL PORT STUDY
CITY OF DES MOINES COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCT. 20, 2014
RAIL PORT OVERVIEW AND NEXT STEPS
…
NS / BNSF Option
Reciprocal Switch to IAIS / UP
Access to NS / BNSF / IAIS / UP
NS will be only carrier with direct
access, NS Agent for BNSF,
switch fee to IAIS and UP.
Need additional track for NS use
in facility.
Preferred option for the site.
Elimination of at grade crossing
of SE Connector.
Need additional ground for rail
connections.