AAR calls on feds to reopen Eagle Pass, El Paso rail crossings

Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from the National Grain and Feed Association and the North America Export Grain Association.

The Association of American Railroads is calling on U.S. Customers and Border Protection (CBP) to reopen international crossings at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, which serve as key crossings for the North American rail network.

The CBP has temporarily suspended northbound and southbound rail traffic at two crossings in response to the migrant crisis at the border. This is the second time in recent months that the CBP has taken such action.

"The urgency of reopening these crossings and restoring rail service between the two nations cannot be overstated," said AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies in a press release. "There are not separate U.S. and Mexican rail networks; there is only one interconnected North American rail network. Every day the border remains closed unleashes a cascade of delay across operations on both sides of the border, impacting customers and ultimately consumers."

The CBP's action directly and immediately affects the operations of BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad and their customers. Combined, the two carriers operate 24 trains daily at the two crossings, according to the AAR.

The Eagle Pass and El Paso locations represent 45% of cross-border UP business, UP spokeswoman Kristen South said in an email. There isn't enough capacity at the railroad's other four gateways to reroute the traffic that travels through Eagle Pass and El Paso, she said.

"While the company understands this is a complex humanitarian crisis, most migrants are not crossing the border on trains," South said. "Union Pacific uses our own employees, police force and technology including an X-ray system that uses gamma-ray imaging, to look for people and contraband."

Every day that the border is closed, UP embargoes customers' goods on more than 60 trains, she added.

"Union Pacific is doing everything possible to stage trains and work with customers to prevent congestion at the border. The longer this closure is in effect, the more difficult it will be for cross-border trade to resume," South said.

Due to the mandated closing, BNSF is not accepting new shipments through the area at this time, the Class I stated in a customer notification. Trains en route will be staged until the gateways reopen and it's safe to resume cross-border operations, BNSF officials said.

Meanwhile, the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and North America Export Grain Association (NAEGA) said the closure at Eagle Pass and El Paso is resulting in "critical tightness in feeding supplies for several livestock feeders in Mexico," as well as grain trains in multiple states being held for shipment. The associations joined the railroads in urging the CBP to reopen the crossings.

"The critical nature of this issue is growing by the hour, particularly for those livestock feeders that may run out of feed," they said in a press release.