Port of Longview to begin North Rail Connection project

(Source: Progressive Railroading 06/26/2020)

The Port of Longview, Washington, this summer will begin a project to add more than 5,000 feet of new railroad track.

The port’s commissioners earlier this week gave staff approval to buy materials to start the North Rail Connection project, which is designed to boost the port’s rail capacity by realigning more than 1,900 feet of existing track and adding two lines totaling more than 5,000 feet, The Daily News reported.

The additional track will be installed between International Way and Switch Alley, an area at the northwest corner of the port near the intersection of Industrial Way and Oregon Way in Longview, Washington. Once completed, the project will allow the port to store about 90 rail cars but still keep a track open for trains to pass through on the way to berths 2, 5 and 6, the newspaper reported.

“At present, we have just one rail track that moves through there, and it can become a bottleneck, which is a challenge for moving cargo in and out of the port,” said Bill Burton, director of facilities and engineering.

The project is slated to be completed by December 2021. BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad serve the port.