Savage Tooele begins construction of short line to serve Utah business park

Savage Tooele Railroad (STR) officials yesterday marked the start of construction of a new short line that will serve tenants in Lakeview Business Park in Grantsville, Utah.

When completed, the short line will be Utah's first new railroad in decades, STR officials said in a press release.

In April, the Surface Transportation Board granted approval for STR to construct, rehabilitate and operate 11 miles of rail line in Tooele County, Utah. The rail line will be built to connect tenants of the 1,700-acre master-planned logistics park to the global market.

Providing a rail alternative to truck transportation will lower emissions and reduce fuel consumption and wear-and-tear on roads. Construction of the rail line also aligns with a broader vision for economic development within the Tooele County region, STR officials said.

The park includes direct truck connections to Interstates 80 and 15 complemented by an interchange with Union Pacific Railroad. The new short line will operate from UP's Shafter Subdivision mainline to the park. 

“Union Pacific is excited about our partnership with Savage and the opportunity to provide rail service to the Lakeview Business Park," said Dan McLaughlin, assistant vice president of marketing and sales at UP. "Our 32,000-mile network, with its nine international gateways to Canada and Mexico, will provide new opportunities for market growth and expansion for those that choose to develop new warehouses, facilities and other businesses in the park."