[Springville Shooter]

Love it or hate it? I am a 4th generation railroader with deep roots in Carbon and Duchesne Counties so I'm always excited for more railroad. Anything to reduce tanker traffic on Hwy 40 is a plus. Just not sure how I feel about trains rumbling down the Hwy 191 corridor.--------SS

 

[backcountry]

I'd never heard about the project until today when I saw the story about the USFS approval. I'm pretty neutral on such things. I will say that section of the 191 is stunning and pleasantly quiet in the winter. This will definitely change it's character.

Totally understand why there is strong coalition behind it though.

 

[CPAjeff]

This is HUGE for the Basin. Because of the wax content in the Basin's oil, the refineries in SLC can set the price. With this railway, the oil can be shipped to other refineries with the capacity to strip the wax out of the crude.

It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out!

 

[one4fishing]

The railway is smart but it sucks for property owners that will be affected.

 

[jewbacca]

This is HUGE for the Basin. Because of the wax content in the Basin's oil, the refineries in SLC can set the price. With this railway, the oil can be shipped to other refineries with the capacity to strip the wax out of the crude.

It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out!

It will be interesting. I wonder what this will do to Utah fuel prices. Local refiners get a steep discount on waxy crude and enjoy some of the highest margins in the country. I would think squeezing those margins won't do us any favors at the pump.

But it's a big win for the oil producers. Somebody will be getting filthy rich off this.

 

[backcountry]

How long will it take the commercial enterprises to recoup the $1+ billion investment in the line? I understand it's not going to hurt the companies collaborating but its intriguing to me to compare that cost to the actual profit the valley make from this project.

 

[BPturkeys]

This is an idea that is about 50 years late. With pumping slowing down in the basin I can't imagine this project will ever be built. It sure would be nice to get those trucks off the roads, but then, that whole trucking industry based around the basin would collapse with many many jobs lost and families needing to relocate. There would be a big net lost of jobs in that area if they build the railroad.
One thing for sure, if they do build, there will be a few more billionaires with only a few locals picking up some scraps.
The environmental impact both locally and World wide is way too complicate for me to way in on...I just wish we would hurry up and get off our burning fossil fuels addiction.

 

[middlefork]

Amazing they have got this far along with the process. There seems to be a lot of information both pro and con out there. The idea has been around for a long time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uinta_Basin_Rail

 

[CPAjeff]

This is an idea that is about 50 years late. With pumping slowing down in the basin I can't imagine this project will ever be built. It sure would be nice to get those trucks off the roads, but then, that whole trucking industry based around the basin would collapse with many many jobs lost and families needing to relocate. There would be a big net lost of jobs in that area if they build the railroad.
One thing for sure, if they do build, there will be a few more billionaires with only a few locals picking up some scraps.
The environmental impact both locally and World wide is way too complicate for me to way in on...I just wish we would hurry up and get off our burning fossil fuels addiction.

What?!? The Basin is pumping out more oil now than nearly ever - every company is looking for folks. With the railway, the production is going to INCREASE, and there will still be plenty of need for truck drivers. Remember, the oil still has to get from the ground to the train station.

 

[Springville Shooter]

One thing I can guarantee, I will have to pull some strings and get a hyrail trip through the new Indian Summit tunnel once it is complete. I wonder what kind of industry the rail could support bringing bulk commodities into the basin? Perhaps a wood-fire co-generation plant? This would also be a cool route for hobby railroaders and motor-car clubs on days when they aren't running trains. They could run a tour train from Scofield to Roosevelt and back.-------SS

 

[DallanC]

Anyone have a map of the proposed rail line?

-DallanC

 

[Springville Shooter]

 

[Springville Shooter]

 

[middlefork]

Uinta Basin Railway

The Uinta Basin Railway will provide new infrastructure to economically transport the goods that drive jobs and economic development and community services in the Uinta Basin to enable sustainable communities and enrich quality of life.

uintabasinrailway.com

 

[BPturkeys]

What?!? The Basin is pumping out more oil now than nearly ever - every company is looking for folks. With the railway, the production is going to INCREASE, and there will still be plenty of need for truck drivers. Remember, the oil still has to get from the ground to the train station.

Perhaps you're correct, I only have knowledge of the Blue Bench area. But to say that the next 50 years will see growth in production in the oil industry in the Basin that even slightly resembles that of the last 50 years is pretty short sighted. The Basin area oil industry is mature and actually headed into it's declining years as is all oil industry around the world. The great oil(carbon) burning based industrial revolution is slowly morphing into something better, something greener if I may use that term without arousing the ire of those invested in old carbon burning tech, and will hopefully result in a better world for future generations.
But after all is said, I stand by my statement that the Uinta Basin railroad is about 50 years too late and will NEVER be built.

 

[middlefork]

BP, I can respect your opinion as stated but respectfully disagree. There may be a bunch of people blowing smoke up the investors proverbial butt but there have been huge strides made to make this happen.
As for greener I'll just say it would be wishful thinking that my great grand children will live without oil produced products.

As for never being built? Looks like contracts have been signed.

Rio Grande Pacific Corporation Announces Engineering and Construction Teams for Uinta Basin Railway Project

Rio Grande Pacific Corporation Announces Engineering and Construction Teams for Uinta Basin Railway Project

www.businesswire.com

 

[weaversamuel76]

They are going to build it. If it's profitable or not is a wait on see.

Rail still remains to be most efficient way to move goods over any distance especially places that lack quality interstate road systems.

 

[Critter]

There is a lot of opposition to this RR here in Colorado amongst the tree huger crowd. All they can see is a train derailment and liquid oil spreading all across the ground along with into the Colorado River where the tracks will follow until it hits the Continental Divide. They have no idea that this oil is such a heavy paraffin base that it won't flow very far if there is a leak or derailment of one of the trains.

As for the most efficient way to haul things, there are no other ways to transport the amount of tonnage as the railroads do for the cost that they do it for. It doesn't matter if there is a interstate freeway or other fantastic roads for the truckers to drive on, they just can't transport that amount of merchandise as cheap. But there will always be a need for a truck to move the products from rail terminals to their final destination.

 

[weaversamuel76]

There is a lot of opposition to this RR here in Colorado amongst the tree huger crowd. All they can see is a train derailment and liquid oil spreading all across the ground along with into the Colorado River where the tracks will follow until it hits the Continental Divide. They have no idea that this oil is such a heavy paraffin base that it won't flow very far if there is a leak or derailment of one of the trains.

As for the most efficient way to haul things, there are no other ways to transport the amount of tonnage as the railroads do for the cost that they do it for. It doesn't matter if there is a interstate freeway or other fantastic roads for the truckers to drive on, they just can't transport that amount of merchandise as cheap. But there will always be a need for a truck to move the products from rail terminals to their final destination.

This rail line isn't running into Colorado. There is already a track that runs into Craig (actually was discussed taking it to vernal that way) and frankly that's not going any where until it's unprofitable to operate over.


Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[Critter]

This rail line isn't running into Colorado. There is already a track that runs into Craig (actually was discussed taking it to vernal that way) and frankly that's not going any where until it's unprofitable to operate over.


Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

Correct but the crude that they will be hauling will be coming through Colorado and that is where the tree huggers are fighting against it.

Utah rail line could bring 10 crude oil trains through Denver daily, drawing concern across Colorado

A railroad project out of Utah that would bring up to 10, two-mile-long oil trains through Denver daily has federal approval but no clear picture of the environmental damage it might cause, dozens …

www.denverpost.com