|
© 2025 Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute is a research and education center at North Dakota State University.
|
MPC |
| Title: | Biennial Strategic Transportation Analysis |
| Principal Investigators: | Gene Griffin |
| University: | North Dakota State University |
| Status: | Completed |
| Year: | 1999 |
| Project #: | MPC-192 |
Freight transportation is vital to the economies of North Dakota and Region 8. The value of freight transportation services will only increase in the 21st Century, as national and global trends affect trade and economic development in the region. In addition to these broad changes, railroad strategies and technology are impacting rural shippers and communities. Class I carriers are introducing 104-110 car shuttle train service for grain. At the same time, they are deploying 286,000-pound cars in grain service and evaluating the future potential of 315,000-pound cars. Collectively, these changes will impact the viability of branch lines and short line railroads and reduce the number of grain shipping stations in North Dakota and the region. Three related trends—continued rail-line abandonment, concentration of the Class I railroad industry, and growth of value-added processing—will also impact future transportation and logistical systems. Four overarching trends/issues will be investigated in this study: 1) implementation of grain shuttle train rates and services; 2) use of heavier rail cars on branch lines and short line railroads; 3) future adequacy and availability of intermodal services; and 4) optimal locations for value added agricultural processors.
