Rail

Shipping products across the country? The railroad access that’s available at the Port of Little Rock can put you on the fast track. With the ability to switch between two of the largest Class I railroads, Union Pacific (UP) Railroad and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Company, the Port of Little Rock Railroad is one of our essential competitive advantages.

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Arkansas features 1,683 miles of Class I railroads

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Port of Little Rock offers daily switching to the Port of Little Rock industrial park

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The Port of Little Rock Railroad operates with a five-person crew

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The Port of Little Rock Railroad operates two locomotives on approximately 20 miles of track

Port of Little Rock Railroad

The Port of Little Rock Railroad serves over twenty manufacturing, warehousing and distribution companies in the district and numerous shippers from across the region. The railroad also provides direct intermodal connections with the river terminal on the Arkansas River, allowing shippers to access global markets via the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System through the international port at New Orleans, LA.
Port of Little Rock Railroad

Fact:

A fifteen-barge tow can carry 216 railcars or 1050 semis or 3000 elephants
The Port of Little Rock operates a switching railroad that serves both Union Pacific and Burlington Northern railroads
Employees of Port of Little Rock Railroad are under all Federal Railroad regulations. The track is maintained at Class I standards

A direct connection to dual Class I railroad

Operating on 20 miles of track, the Port of Little Rock Railroad system includes several spur lines to industries within the Industrial District and a marshaling yard where switching takes place between the Port of Little Rock Railroad, the Union Pacific Railroad and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company. The line extends from its junction with the UP Railroad near Clinton National Airport to the Arkansas River at the Port of Little Rock Dock Facilities.

Unique amenities and capabilities

Port of Little Rock Railroad provides a host of advantages that unkinks supply chains for state, national and international clients.

Heavy equipment loading ramp. Recently completed, this ramp allows machinery such as road graders, military vehicles or any type of heavy wheeled equipment to be loaded directly onto or off of railcars and shipped to or from any location in North America.

Heavy-duty rail. The north marshaling yard has rail that accommodates six axle road engines, heavy loads and unit trains up to one hundred ten (110) cars in length.

On duty and at your service. The Port of Little Rock Railroad operates a five-person crew Monday through Friday, with switching services provided from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. A two-man crew providing limited switching is available on Saturday and Sunday as needed, per FRA Regulations. The Port of Little Rock Railroad connects to the Union Pacific Railroad and by trackage/haulage rights to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

Additional Information

The Port of Little Rock Railroad is a Surface Transportation Board certified switching railroad authorized by ICC Federal Docket No. 24549 dated August 4, 1967.  The Port Railroad activated certification in June 1972 and a five-person crew was hired in October 1974.

Employees are under all Federal Railroad regulations (Engineer Certification, Safety Regulations, and Track Maintenance). The track is maintained to Class I standards.  The Port RR operates a tandem unit with one SW1500 diesel electric EMD locomotive leased from GATX Locomotives and an EMD GP 15-1 locomotive owned by the Port. The mainline track is 133/136# rail. The Port Railroad has a published tariff and operates under a reciprocal switching agreement with Union Pacific and Burlington Northern railroads.