California State Rail Plan 2005-06 to 2015-16

Chapter XV – Major Freight Issues
A Caltrans survey in 2005 of the UP and BNSF indicated their major choke points
are areas where they both operate on the same facility. Capacity improvements
are needed at:
• Cajon Pass between San Bernardino and Cajon Summit.
• Tehachapi Pass between Bakersfield and Tehachapi Summit.
• Colton Crossing in San Bernardino County.
In addition, both railroads noted capacity improvements were needed between
San Bernardino and Los Angeles along State Route 91, and the Interstate 5 and 10
corridors to accommodate additional commuter rail service. The Alameda East
Construction Authority, the San Bernardino Associated Governments, Riverside
County Transportation Commission, Orange County Transportation Authority,
and the On-Trac Project are working with the railroads to address the need for
grade separations to reduce delays at grade crossings between these two cities.
Capacity can be measured in terms of the level of investment across three
elements: freight handling facilities or yards, main line track, and rolling stock.
UP’s capital investments for 2004 exceeded $1.8 billion, which represents over
16 percent of revenues. In the same year, BNSF spent $1.5 billion for capital
investments, over 14 percent of revenues. While expensive, these investments are
needed to move the freight on ever more crowded main lines and through ever
more congested intermodal and general classification yards.
INTERMODAL SHIPMENTS
Intermodal is defined as being or involving the transportation by more than one
mode during a single journey. For the purpose of this plan, we are referring to the
rail carriage of truck trailers and containers. The growing predominance of
intermodal freight in California’s railroad operations is based on a large consumer
demand as well as the fact that California is the primary gateway for containerized
products coming in from the rapidly expanding Pacific Rim economies.
As the growth leader, intermodal traffic is making heavy demands on existing
railroad capacity. The BNSF’s international intermodal traffic passing through
California grew an additional 16 percent in 2004, surpassing two million
containers handled at their facilities. A map of California rail intermodal facilities
is shown in Figure 15A.
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