How much does it cost a RR per mile to lay rail?
Thanks,
Douglas H,
New Brighton, MN
HAHAHAHA, You stated a thread about this! Like I said, maybe a million per section fo rail. (Hey, I’m not an expert)!
Obviously you two guys (WisconsinCentral & Alstom) have been having a “conversation” about this topic, so I hope you don’t mind input from another “non-expert”.
I am usually irritated when I post a question and get answers from people who “think” they know the answer, but offer it up as definitive. Nevertheless, here goes. Somewhere, perhaps on another forum [:0] I read where the cost of laying new track in virgin territory was in the ball park of $1,000,000 per mile. It can be a lot more, too, depending on right-of-way acquisition, terrain, etc.
I tried google, to no avail, but I if I run across the info I’ll repost.
Are you two betting? Recreationally, I’m sure!
As has been stated, the cost varies per case. There is a connecting track near where I live which has something like $6 million in costs but then it included property purchase and extensive grading of the line.
Length, about a mile.
Clearly the only cost one might be able to derive is some very general average.
Here’s a quote from a news article that doesn’t answer your question directly but gets us into the ballpark.
“Amtrak says it costs up to $5 million a mile to upgrade existing railroad track to carry high speed trains capable of going 150 mph. Amtrak does not build new track for its high speed routes. Amtrak’s data also show that it costs $10 million to $20 million to add one mile of lane to an interstate highway.” Quoted from a larger article about magnetic super speed trains.
If high speed passenger rail can be laid for 5 mil, you can be sure freight tracks are much cheaper, but I don’t have figures to quote.
Hope this helps. Tim
I understood it cost $1,000 per foot.
Some general guidelines:
General cost/mile, virgin, if performed thru the carrier with union labor: $1 million
As above, private contractor: $600,000
Yard track, per foot, non-union: $125
Fly-overs. with track: $5,000 per foot
Main line turn out: $100,000 to $500,000
Yard turn out: $30,000-50,000