Join the discussion on the following article:
Trains News Wire FLASH: BNSF to spend $250 million on North Dakota improvements
Well done BNSF!
This is EXACTLY what is needed, for starters! I hope they put some sidings in after Minot though, and if done right could later be used as part of a Double if they expand more. Passing trains there is the Norm these days. Great Northern would be proud!
The delays are the exact reason why I am not taking the Empire Builder from Minnesota to Whitefish for skiing. So I am glad to hear about the investment into the “railroad plant.”
The delays are the exact reason why I am not taking the Empire Builder from Minnesota to Whitefish for skiing. So I am glad to hear about the investment into the “railroad plant.”
It is always good to hear that they are putting money into the railroad plant. I remember the bad old days of the 60’s and 70’s when the railroads were “consuming” the plant, i.e not mainatining it properly. Times change and sometimes for the better.
Good to hear. I feel they should also double track the stretch between Minot & Fargo also. It would be continuous all the way across North Dakota that way, and I would guess the stretch east of Minot has even heavier traffic.
Does CP have capacity issues in the region as well, possibly not publicized since it doesn’t affect passenger trains? Perhaps both railroads could run directionally using each other’s track between Minot and Minneapolis.
Sounds like the often under-appreciated Marshall Sub. (Willmar-Sioux City) delivers once again. It too needs even more capacity improvements.
A lot of the traffic up there also goes across Illinois to Chicago, and the Aurora Sub could use some added capacity as well. Fill in the gaps between a few sidings, especially Sugar Grove to Aurora and Shabbona to Mored.
Why? There is an oil train on the road right now that, after sitting at Clear Lake, MN for about 3 days, was rerouted back west out of Minneapolis to Willmar and south to Sioux City and Omaha, then to Chicago via the Ottumwa Sub. All because the Aurora and St. Croix subs are plugged up.
Thought I last saw the photo on the Transcon.
Good plans as far as they go, but what about west of Glasgow? Last September I was on the Builder EB as BNSF put us on sidings west of Glasgow for several hours as they let multiple freights go by us. We were 8 hours late into Chicago.
What about the line from ND to Minneapolis? Is it double tracked? Do any of the oil trains get diverted to other carriers like UP? I don’t remember seeing an oil train on the line that goes from St Paul to Chicago, the Adams sub?
Yes, there are three BNSF routes through ND. Two out of Minot (GN line) and one route across ND Fargo through Bismarck ( NP line).
From Moorhead to Mpls there are two lines: one is the NP line through Stapes to Northtown (double tracked) and the original GN line through Willmar into Mpls at Cedar Lake.
The GN line from MT to Minot is still only single track.
David that would explain why I saw 2 oil trains on the Mendota Sub last week. Didn’t quite know why they would be running there and not the Aurora Sub. Now I know!