TXNW Railway Marks Completion of $8.2 Million in Infrastructure Upgrades

The Texas North Western Railway Company (TXNW), a subsidiary of TNW Corporation of Dallas serving the Texas Panhandle, celebrated the completion of its Etter Improvement Project on August 28 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and luncheon.

TXNW Railway, in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), was awarded $4.1 million for rail line improvements from the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. TXNW provided matching funds for the project. 

This $8.2 million project involved rebuilding and expanding the Etter Rail Interchange to improve rail safety, enhance fluidity, and increase capacity for rail shipments in Moore County and the surrounding areas. These improvements are expected to attract new businesses, support job creation, and improve the region’s ability to be a leader in national and international markets. The infrastructure upgrades include modernizing the railroad crossing at Birch Ave, installing multiple power switches and turnouts, and extending two interchange tracks to 8,500 ft long.  This substantial public-private investment will improve freight transportation efficiency, reduce truck congestion on highways, and help preserve road infrastructure while reducing environmental impact.

The event was attended by representatives from local and regional political offices, including staff from the office of U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson. A number of executives from TXNW Railway’s rail partners were also present, underscoring the broad community and industry support for the project. Leaders from TXNW Railway, BNSF Railway, and TrinityRail shared their vision for the opportunities this project brings to the local community and emphasized the strategic significance of the location on BNSF’s Transcontinental Route and North America’s rail network.

TNW Chief Executive Officer Paul Treangen says, “This project is the ideal example of how public-private partnership should work. It is the result of policy that encourages private infrastructure investment that creates significant, long-term public benefit. Competitive, multi-modal, freight transportation is essential to our economy. Short line railroads provide first and last mile service and are critical to that network." Treangen credits the success of the grant in part to ongoing support by Governor Greg Abbott, U.S. Senator John Cornyn, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, U.S Representative Mac Thornberry (R – TX 13), the Texas Department of Transportation, officials from Moore County and the cities of Dumas, Sunray, and Cactus, plus customers TrinityRail, Valero Marketing and Supply, Continental Carbon, Bunge, Nutrien Ag Solutions, and BNSF Railway.