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In summer, Alaska Railroad Corp. (ARRC) will begin moving one train round-trip per day through Wasilla to serve Quality Asphalt Paving's (QAP) new gravel pit.

Railroad crews currently are completing trackwork and installing a conveyor system designed to load gravel onto trains.

Comprising 80 rail cars — each with the capacity to carry 100 tons or the equivalent of four trucks — the gravel trains will be similar to coal trains ARRC moves from Healy to Seward. Railroad managers are working with QAP officials to ensure the trains minimize commuter-rail disruptions.

QAP, Anchorage Sand & Gravel, and Central Paving Products operate pits in Palmer and usually require one to two daily trains to move gravel to Anchorage facilities. Last year, ARRC moved more than 4 million tons of gravel.