2023 Tacoma Rail Highlights

Efficient and Reliable Service

Tacoma Rail Superintendent, Dale King

Since 1914, Tacoma Rail has worked to meet its primary goal of providing efficient, cost-effective rail service. The year 2023 was no exception; we provided service to areas as diverse as the Port of Tacoma and Tacoma’s industrial areas (Tidelands Division), Lakeview (Capital Division), and Frederickson (Mountain Division). 

We made further strides in our commitment to environmental sustainability, securing a $4.1 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant and $4.95 million from the Washington State Department of Transportation Climate Commitment Act for battery electric locomotives and charging infrastructure. 

Tacoma Rail is proud to say that in 2023, it had 100% on-time outbound intermodal train performance and 99% on-time commercial traffic spotting performance. 

Tidelands Division 

Total intermodal platform volumes rebounded after declining the previous year and were up 29% in 2023. Tacoma Rail continues to experience volatility in international intermodal trade. 

Unit trains and other commercial traffic increased 25% in 2023 versus 2022. Wallenius Wilhelmsen Solutions continued to grow its line haul traffic by 490%. 

Our rail utility continued to focus on meeting Washington state’s environmental rules that mandate executing oil spill contingency plans. In 2023, Tacoma Rail completed three Washington State Department of Ecology-supervised spill drills. 

Capital Division 

The Capital Division’s total traffic decreased by 3% from 698 carloads in 2022 to 678 carloads in 2023. This division provides service to South Tacoma and Lakewood customers through a freight franchise on the rail line owned by Sound Transit. Positive Train Control, a system of functional requirements for monitoring and controlling train movements and a type of train protection system, is a requirement for the Capital Division. 

Mountain Division 

Tacoma Rail and the City of Tacoma had an agreement to operate the Mountain Division. In 2023, it handled 372 carloads, a 79% volume decrease from 2022. This increase was due to selling a large portion of the railroad to Rainier Rail in May 2023. Rainier Rail now provides railroad services to all the freight rail customers on the line from the south rather than Tacoma Rail from the north. 

Conclusion

Tacoma Rail continues to work diligently to provide efficient, cost-effective rail services daily to ensure long-term safety, sustainability, and economic vitality.

2023 Tacoma Rail Financial Report
2023 Tacoma Rail Financial Highlights