Amtrak adds funds to Oregon DOT Cascades siding project

Amtrak announced yesterday it is contributing $750,000 toward a project aimed at reducing train delays in the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor.

Amtrak's matching contribution is being made in support of the Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT) application for a federal grant to fund the project. If successful, the grant would help fund the Oregon City siding rehabilitation project to restore an out-of-service siding between Portland and Salem, Oregon, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

Plans for restoring the siding include laying new track and ties, and equipping both ends with power-operated switches and switch heaters to avoid snow delays in the winter.

After completing the project, ODOT will work to secure funding for an additional track on an adjacent 3-mile section between Oregon City and an existing siding to the south.

The two-phase project will result in 5 miles of new double-track section between Portland Salem, significantly reducing congestion and delays caused by freight trains and other Amtrak trains.

Amtrak Cascades service between Portland and Eugene, Oregon, is frequently affected by delays caused by freight trains and other Amtrak trains. The siding project will help reduce the delays so that Amtrak riders arrive at their destinations on time, Amtrak officials said.

“Oregon’s Amtrak network operates on tracks owned, maintained, and dispatched by freight railroads. Because the freight railroads make all dispatching decisions, they have a tremendous amount of influence over schedule, often prioritizing their own trains over our customers,” said Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson. “We are thrilled to invest in the Oregon City Siding Project and further the first phase that will not only reduce delays but will contribute to the economic competitiveness of the region.”

The siding project is one of three that ODOT will sponsor for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) discretionary grants program.