The Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railway (BRG) recently completed the first phase of the expansion of the Palo Alto Yard at the Port of Brownsville.
The upgrade includes the addition of three tracks of rail line, increasing the total static capacity of railcars at the yard to 398. The Palo Alto Yard is BRG’s largest interchange switchyard at the port.
BRG President and COO Norma Torres said that as business increases, phase two and three of the project will be constructed adding space for an additional 260 railcars and bringing the yard’s total static capacity to 658 railcars.
In 2021, the shortline railroad set an all-time high record of 65,865 loaded railcars handled, a 22 percent increase from its 51,115 railcar movements in 2020. In June, BRG handled 6,117 loaded railcars, bringing its year-to-date total to 36,749, on track for another record-breaking year.
The Port of Brownsville continues to service a range of diverse and growing industries across North America. These industries rely on the port for the efficient movement of steel, wind energy components, refined petroleum products, aggregates, agriculture products and other commodities to support a thriving supply chain.
Formed in 1984 by the Brownsville Navigation District, the BRG provides safe and reliable service to Port of Brownsville users, operating on more than 45 miles of port rail. The shortline railroad provider offers the port and its customers access to three Class 1 railroads — Union Pacific, Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Kansas City Southern de México for access into Mexico.
Since 2014, OmniTRAX Inc., under agreement, has managed the BRG enhancing services for port rail users while aiming to attract new shippers in the manufacturing and distribution industries.
In 2021, the shortline railroad set an all-time high record of 65,865 loaded railcars handled, a 22 percent increase from its 51,115 railcar movements in 2020. In June, BRG handled 6,117 loaded railcars, bringing its year-to-date total to 36,749, on track for another record-breaking year.
