GRANTSVILLE, Utah — More than three years after the project began seeking regulatory approval, and seven months after that approval was granted, construction has begun on the Savage Tooele Railroad, Utah’s first new railroad in decades.
The 11-mile short line will build five miles of new track and restore a 6-mile former Union Pacific branch to serve the Lakeview Business Park, a 1,700-acre logistics facility in Grantsville, southwest of Salt Lake City. Groundbreaking was held Thursday, Nov. 7.
“We’re excited to start the construction of the STR rail line, and to safely and responsibly build and operate this new shortline railroad in Tooele County,” Savage CEO Kirk Aubry said in a press release. “It’s not often that we get to witness or participate in the birth of a new railroad, in Utah or anywhere. We appreciate the support of federal, state and local officials, our customers and partners, and everyone involved with this project.”
The STB approved the Savage Tooele project in April [see “STB approves proposal …,” Trains News Wire, April 2, 2024]. That concluded a regulatory process that began with a Savage filing in September 2021, a refiling in June 2022 , and an STB determination that the project required board approval and an environmental assessment — which led to a 626-page report completed in September 2023. [see “Analysis: Regulatory overkill stunts potential …,” News Wire, Oct. 16, 2023]. The STB’s Office of Environmental Analysis ultimately determined the project would have no impact on the environment, provided that 62 migitation measures were required [see “Proposed Utah short line passes environmental review hurdle,” News Wire, March 4, 2024].
One of the partners in the business park development said the railroad would be a major asset for that project.
“The STR will significantly improve Lakeview Business Park’s connectivity and accessibility, strengthening its ability to support companies’ supply chain operations,” said Gus Gradinger, vice president, customer-led development at Prologis. “With the park fully entitled, modern logistics and manufacturing facilities can be developed and delivered fast for a wide range of businesses.”
The railroad will offer five-day-a-week service to the business park, located just 20 minutes from Union Pacific’s Salt Lake City intermodal terminal.
What is status of the very short UP portion? Is UP going to control the access to the main line?
Yes, the STB already ruled that UP would control the line access since it is accessed from UP’s former Western Pacific Line through Wendover UT/NV and beyond. There is no access to any other railroad from any other direction and Savage has negotiated with UP to perform switching duties on the line and in the business park. Its a win-win for everybody.
Now that this logjam in government over reach has been mitigated, one can only hope that a more multi-use friendly President will also mean the reversal of Biden era damaging rail and economic actions in Northeastern Utah by greenlighting the 84 mile Uinta Basin Railway to proceed and open that area of the country rich in oil, coal, phosphates and agricultural traffic so badly needed by the local residents and connect them to the national rail network as previously proposed and as about to be heard on appeal by the US Supreme Court.
Good news for the Utah area. This line used to go all the way into the army depot at Tooele, and was a Western Pacific spur originally.
There just seems to be too much bureaucracy to build rail lines today. It is completely unnecessary. Especially if the environmentalists tout rail as the green alternative to highway traffic.
If today’s “regulatory” environment existed 200 years ago, the U.S. would today be a nation of canals, stretching from the Atlantic to the… Mississippi!
They only tout rail when its in their interests. Other wise they would prefer we all go back to covered wagons. (As long as they get to keep their SUV’s! lol)