January 23, 2012
The Port of Corpus Christi Authority has published a 2012 Rail Master Plan that includes six potential projects in San Patricio County that would enhance service to industrial customers and reduce delays and enhance safety for area motorists.
The plan presented to Port Commissioners depicts conceptual projects for railroad improvements needed to serve growing rail traffic at existing and future port terminals and industries.
Included is a major project that would relocate all railroad lines out of the center of Odem which has been a South Texas rail hub since 1907 when the railroad connection Houston to Robstown and Brownsville was built through Odem. The San Antonio Uvalde & Gulf Railroad was completed in 1914 cutting through Odem on the way from San Antonio to Corpus Christi. Both lines are now owned by Union Pacific.
Both Union Pacific main lines would be relocated out of Odem creating a wide loop running east and north of town. A US 77 bridge would be built by TxDOT over the new track north of Odem, eliminating many at-grade crossings that disrupt traffic in Odem.
The Port Authority also envisions an 11,000 foot rail interchange yard parallel to FM 631 southeast of Odem, about two miles east of the existing Corpus Christi line which runs across the east end of the Nueces River Delta. This new yard would allow up to three unit trains to be cued and staged clear of main track traffic and congested areas at the Port's Inner Harbor.
Another conceptual plan calls for a new 18-mile railroad track running from near Odem east to near Gregory where it would run under a new highway bridge in US 181 and directly serve the Port's La Quinta Terminal complex. While a route is shown it is only conceptual and subject to future assessment of obstructions, crossing, drainage and other issues.
OTHER PROJECTS
The Master Plan includes a concept for construction of a rail relief route for the City of Gregory. The idea is to build approximately 3 miles of new track on the west side of Gregory, connecting the existing Union Pacific line to the proposed rail entrance to the La Quinta property at a location just south of the Gulf Compress cotton warehouses.
Other proposed projects include a loop track system on the La Quinta property and a possible industrial spur southwest of Ingleside to serve current and future manufacturing operations.
Finally, the plan notes that completion of the rail junction in Sinton would dramatically improve the efficiency of handling railcars moving between industrial shippers in the Gregory-Ingleside area and points north of the Coastal Bend. Currently railcars heading north must first go south at Sinton to be reassembled to head north.
The Port Authority's business development staff anticipates substantially more sustained rail activity in the future. This will include shipments of grain, metallurgical coal, bio coal, liquid fertilizer, frac sand and crude oil. Wind turbine component shipments are expected to continue at a steady pace. Development at the La Quinta property and construction of the TPCO steel pipe plant at Gregory will produce more rail traffic in the coming decade.
Inner Harbor rail volume averaged approximately 12,000 cars a year before 2007. Since then volume has more than doubled and current infrastructure is nearing capacity.
Union Pacific train traveling through the rail junction at the center of Odem; main line tracks cross US 77 (left) -- a major interregional highway -- at grade.
