Post by markfoster on Jul 28, 2007 11:11:51 GMT -5
The gap in the KCS NAFTA route between the KCS at Beaumont and the former Tex Mex at Robstown, TX is bridged by close to 400 miles of trackage rights over the Union Pacific. Much of this is over the congested Sunset Route of the former SP via Flatonia, TX. In 1998 the KCS acquired some 90 miles of former SP branch line between Rosenberg and Victoria (dubbed the "Macaroni" line because of the largely Italian labor force which built it in the 1880's) with the view of using this as a shortcut thus eliminating the need for some of the trackage right mileage over the UP.
The Macaroni line has been out of service for years and a number of lawsuits objecting to its reopening had to be resolved before rehab work was started. The KCS will completely rebuild the route to mainline standards with 136# CWR and all new ties and ballast. The following announcement of their plans for this line was just posted on the KCS website.
* * * * * * * * *
In a news release on June 5, KCS announced that it has applied for an approximate $100 million Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to finance the rehabilitation of its line between Victoria and Rosenberg, TX on an existing rail corridor.
Rehabilitation of the line will shorten KCS' U.S. route to Mexico by approximately 70 miles. It will also eliminate the need for KCS to operate over nearly 160 miles of Union Pacific-controlled track between Rosenberg and Victoria, TX via Flatonia, TX, which is a heavily used rail corridor. This would allow a mileage reduction in KCS' use of trackage rights over Union Pacific between Beaumont and Robstown, TX by over 40 percent.
"This project is one of the most strategically important actions our company could undertake right now," said Michael R. Haverty, KCS chairman and chief executive officer. "Upon completion, it will immediately reduce our operating costs to the point that the project will pay for itself. It will facilitate the development of a superior service route for intermodal shippers to and from Mexico, add badly needed rail capacity to south Texas and return vital rail service to communities along the line."
Rehabilitation of the line will allow KCS to re-establish rail service along the line, which has been out of service, but never abandoned. This will stimulate economic growth and opportunity in communities along the corridor. KCS will work closely with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and local communities along the line as the project progresses.
Mark
The Macaroni line has been out of service for years and a number of lawsuits objecting to its reopening had to be resolved before rehab work was started. The KCS will completely rebuild the route to mainline standards with 136# CWR and all new ties and ballast. The following announcement of their plans for this line was just posted on the KCS website.
* * * * * * * * *
In a news release on June 5, KCS announced that it has applied for an approximate $100 million Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to finance the rehabilitation of its line between Victoria and Rosenberg, TX on an existing rail corridor.
Rehabilitation of the line will shorten KCS' U.S. route to Mexico by approximately 70 miles. It will also eliminate the need for KCS to operate over nearly 160 miles of Union Pacific-controlled track between Rosenberg and Victoria, TX via Flatonia, TX, which is a heavily used rail corridor. This would allow a mileage reduction in KCS' use of trackage rights over Union Pacific between Beaumont and Robstown, TX by over 40 percent.
"This project is one of the most strategically important actions our company could undertake right now," said Michael R. Haverty, KCS chairman and chief executive officer. "Upon completion, it will immediately reduce our operating costs to the point that the project will pay for itself. It will facilitate the development of a superior service route for intermodal shippers to and from Mexico, add badly needed rail capacity to south Texas and return vital rail service to communities along the line."
Rehabilitation of the line will allow KCS to re-establish rail service along the line, which has been out of service, but never abandoned. This will stimulate economic growth and opportunity in communities along the corridor. KCS will work closely with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and local communities along the line as the project progresses.
Mark