Phoenix Subdivision (Union Pacific Railroad)

The Phoenix Subdivision is a railroad line in the U.S. state of Arizona owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. The southeast end of the line connects to the Gila Subdivision near Eloy, runs northeast to Phoenix, and becomes the Roll Industrial Lead, running southwest before reconnecting to the Gila Subdivision at Wellton.[1] As of 2010, eighty miles (130 km) of the line between Roll and Arlington are out of service and used for car storage.[2]: 15 

Phoenix Subdivision
UP Phoenix Yard at Sunset in March 2024 with Chase Field in the background
Overview
OwnerUnion Pacific Railroad
LocaleArizona
Termini
Connecting lines
Websitehttps://www.up.com/
Service
TypeInter-city rail
Freight rail
Operator(s)Union Pacific Railroad
History
Completed1928
Technical
Number of tracks1
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Route map
Map
🔴 Phoenix Subdivision (UP) ⚫ Inactive Portion 🔵 Gila Subdivision 🟠 Phoenix Subdivision (BNSF)
Roll Industrial Lead
Roll Industrial Lead
Phoenix Subdivision
(West Phoenix industrial spurs)
Salt River Spur
Phoenix Yard & Intermodal Terminal
Tempe
Tempe Industrial Lead
Chandler Industrial Lead
Coolidge

The railway is used by almost exclusively for freight movements, with about four trains per day as of May 2018.[3] The McElhaney Cattle Company maintains trackage rights over the western six miles (9.7 km) of the line, with traffic consisting of grain cars.[2]: 15 

On October 9th 1995, Saboteurs intentionally derailed the Sunset Limited in an event known as the 1995 Palo Verde Arizona Derailment. The perpetrators have never been caught.

Amtrak ran the Sunset Limited on the route until June 1996[2]: 15  when Union Pacific wanted to reduce upkeep costs on the west end of the line; passenger service was rerouted to Maricopa.[4] The line is part of a system of proposed commuter rail lines in the Phoenix metropolitan area and could be reopened to support that.[5]

History

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The rail line between Wellton and Phoenix was built by the Southern Pacific Railroad, with passenger service commencing in 1928.[2]: 15  The line was downgraded to a branch line in 1997, as most traffic was rerouted via Maricopa.[2]: 15 

Sunset Limited Bypassing of Phoenix

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On June 2, 1996, the Sunset Limited was rerouted to a more southerly route between Tucson, and Yuma, Arizona, bypassing Phoenix. Union Pacific, which had acquired Southern Pacific earlier in the year, wanted to abandon a decaying portion of its Phoenix–Yuma "West Line", particularly the Roll Industrial Lead, that had previously been used to serve Phoenix. UP demanded that Amtrak pay for the maintenance, which they would not do.[6] This made Phoenix one of the nation's largest cities without direct passenger service; although the designated Phoenix-area stop is in Maricopa, a suburban community about 40 miles (64 km) south of downtown Phoenix. Amtrak Thruway service, run by Stagecoach Express, connects the two cities.[7]

Proposals to Reopen the Wellton Branch

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Since its closure, officials have intermittently considered different options for how to reopen the line and restore Sunset Limited direct passenger service to Phoenix and potentially launch LA intercity service. The most recent study was conducted by ADOT in an effort to understand the existing condition of the Wellton Branch and to develop improvement scenarios and capital cost estimates for freight and passenger rail service between Arlington and Wellton, a distance of 90.8 miles (146.1 km).[8] In that study, it was determined that current freight demand along the Wellton Branch line/ Phoenix Subdivision does not warrant re-opening the Wellton Branch and that Re-opening this corridor solely for passenger service is not cost effective.[9][10]

Results of ADOT's Wellton Branch Railroad Rehabilitation Study[9][10]
Track grade Freight max speed Passenger max speed Total Est. Cost (millions) Avg. Cost/Route mile (millions)
1 Class 2 Track 25 mph NA $165.4 $1.8
2 Class 3 Track 40 mph 60 mph $194.8 $2.1
2A Class 3 w/PTC 40 mph 60 mph $266.0 $2.9
3 Class 4 Track 60 mph 79 mph $420.3 $4.6

Phoenix Intermodal Terminal

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Phoenix Intermodal Terminal was announced in November 2023,[11][12] and operation began on February 1, 2024.[13] The facility is located in UP's Phoenix Yard and will serve shipments coming from the Port of Los Angeles.[14] Drayage service will be provide by Duncan & Sons, a local logistics firm.[15]

References

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  1. ^ Bourque, Scott (September 23, 2019). "Q&AZ: What Happened To The Railroad Line West Of Phoenix?". KJZZ 91.5. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Wellton Branch Railroad Line" (PDF). Maricopa Association of Governments. December 14, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  3. ^ 2018 Regional Commuter Rail System Study Update (PDF), Maricopa Association of Governments, May 2018, p. 2-45, archived from the original (PDF) on May 18, 2023
  4. ^ Johnston, Bob (February 27, 2024). "FRA releases long-distance study interim report, invites comments". Trains. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Bourque, Scott (September 23, 2019). "Q&AZ: What Happened To The Railroad Line West Of Phoenix?". KJZZ. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  6. ^ Johnston, Bob (February 27, 2024). "FRA releases long-distance study interim report, invites comments". Trains. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "Sunset Limited Schedule; Effective November 3, 2019" (PDF). Amtrak. November 3, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "Wellton Branch Rail Rehabilitation Study". ADOT. 2014. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Wellton Branch Rehabilitation Study - Brocure" (PDF). ADOT. March 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Wellton Branch Railroad Rehabilitation Study - 2014 Final Report" (PDF). ADOT. March 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 30, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  11. ^ Stephens, Bill (December 8, 2023). "Union Pacific to open new international intermodal terminal in Phoenix". Trains. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  12. ^ Jensen, Audrey (December 1, 2023). "Union Pacific intermodal railyard in Phoenix sets opening date in 2024". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  13. ^ "Union Pacific opens Phoenix intermodal facility". Trains. February 8, 2024. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  14. ^ "Phoenix Intermodal Terminal". Union Pacific. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  15. ^ Marsh, Joanna (November 29, 2023). "Union Pacific to operate international intermodal terminal in Phoenix". FreightWaves. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2024.

Sources

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