Trackage Rights

[comsopac]

I have been told that the BNSF has about 8,000 miles of trackage rights agreements, is that correct?

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Amazingly - Yes. 

Actually, it's 8,978 miles, per the BNSF's 2008 R-1 Annual Report to the Surface Transportation Board - available for download at BNSF's website, 'Investors' link, then 'Surface Transportation Board Reports', etc. at:

http://www.bnsf.com/investors/transportationreports/08R1.pdf

Note for downloading purposes and times that this report consists of 129 pages, and that this 'PDF' file is about 6.63 MB in size.

In particular, see Schedule ''702. - MILES OF ROAD AT CLOSE OF YEAR - BY STATES AND TERRITORIES (SINGLE TRACK)'', on page 75 of the Report [Page 103 of 129 of the 'PDF' format version] under 'MILES OF ROAD OPERATED BY RESPONDENT', at 'Line 32 - Total Mileage (Single Track)' under column '(f) - Lines operated under trackage rights'.

- Paul North. 

[comsopac]

Thanks very much for the prompt reply, I note Texas has 2,354 miles, which must be a record .  Washington has 172 miles which must be in central and eastern Washington. Oregon 151 miles,  Idaho only has 1 mile. Montana 18 miles, North Dakota 16 miles and Minnesota 102.  Most of the trackage rights must have been acquired after 1980.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Well, most of the Texas miles are likely connected to former ATSF lines, so some may pre-date 1980, and the mid-1990s merger with BN.  Other than that, though, I would not be surprised if most of those came out of the STB's conditions to the later 1990s UP-SP merger - but I'll certainly defer to someone with better knowledge than my mere speculation on that.

- PDN.