Source: adapted from D. Machalaba, "New Era Dawns for Rail Building", Wall Street Journal, February 13, 2008; Page A.

Major Rail Corridors Improved since 2000

The double-stacking of many rail corridors which took place in the 1980s and 1990s bought some time for rail operators as it provided additional capacity with essentially the same line infrastructures. A substantial wave of investment took place in recent years over strategic segments of the American rail system with the goal of improving the capacity and efficiency of long distance corridors. The improvements are multiple, namely better grades, double (or triple) tracking, but also better signal and management systems. Both the capacity and speed of rail operations have been improved. The most significant projects include:

• Transcon corridor (BNSF): $US 2 billion.
• Crescent corridor (NS): $US 2 billion.
• Southeast corridor (CSX): $US 250 million.
• Heartland corridor (NS): $US 260 million.
• Meridian speedway (NS/KCS): $US 300 million.
• Mexico corridor (KCS): $US NA.
• Sunset corridor (UP): $US 2 billion.