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Tracks

Tacoma Rail and the Port of Tacoma have expanded the classification and staging yards in the Tidelands Divisions over time to support growing intermodal freight traffic. 

Yard Expansions 

1998

The first expansion, completed in 1998, added nine tracks for an additional 28,000 feet. 

2001

The second expansion, completed in 2001, had three components: 

  • Adding another nine tracks, totaling 23,000 feet.  
  • Extended existing tracks to create two arrival and departure staging tracks, each more than 1.5 miles long.  
  • Added the Port of Tacoma Road overpass, removing an at-grade crossing that had slowed train and truck traffic.  

These improvements helped enable the Port of Tacoma to become the first on-dock intermodal facility in the United States. 

Rails converging at the Tacoma Rail railways yard, with a locomotive and colorful shipping containers in the background.

2003

The third expansion, completed in 2003, added three additional staging tracks to the main yard, totaling 8,000 feet. 

2004

A fourth staging yard expansion in 2004 added a seven-track yard, totaling 13,000 feet.