Infrastructure

Recognizing the need for efficiency and economy in serving the growing intermodal trade, Tacoma Rail and the Port of Tacoma have completed a dramatic expansion of the classification and staging yards in the Tidelands Division. The first expansion, completed in 1998, added nine tracks for an additional 28,000 feet. The second expansion,completed in 2001, had three components: another nine tracks (23,000 feet) were added; existing tracks were extended to create two arrival/departure staging tracks, each of which is more than 1.5 miles long; and the new Port of Tacoma Road overpass eliminated an at-grade crossing that had slowed both train and truck traffic. The third expansion, completed in 2003, added 3 additional staging tracks to the main yard totaling 8,000 additional feet. A fourth staging yard expansion occured in 2004 when a 7 track yard was added consisting of 13,000 feet.

For information pertaining to how footage is utilized on a railroad, please visit the Track Study and Intermodal Study pages. They provide an insight as to how a switching railroad operates. These pages also include current and historical yard utilization graphs.

Tacoma Rail's computer system is consistantly being upgraded. It features real-time EDI communication with all the railroads in North America. The newest additions are communications through this website and customer reporting through email.

Tacoma Rail's success is due to efforts of employees who are customer-focused and pride themselves in developing cost-effective, efficient, high quality customer service that preserves stable freight switching rates and Tacoma's competitive edge in the world trade community.