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Using rail for people and goods

Highlights of Washington’s passenger rail network program over the last five years include:

  • Significant increase in ridership in 2024 compared to 2023: A record-breaking 40% increase in riders on Amtrak Cascades; an 11% increase on the Empire Builder; a 12.5% increase on Sounder trains; and a 6% increase on Coast Starlight.
  • Five federal grants awarded between 2020 and 2024 for capital improvements along the BNSF corridor in western Washington to reduce landslide risk, rehabilitate bridge structures and make track and switch improvements.

BNSF Railway is the major Class I railroad in the state, with Union Pacific also operating some rail lines. Over the last 15 years, WSDOT and BNSF have developed a collaborative relationship leading to more than $920 million in capital investments to improve the network.

Washington’s 27 short-line railroads also play an important role in transporting goods. The state’s largest short-line railroad system, the PCC Railway, is owned by WSDOT and operates in eastern Washington. It primarily moves agriculture products to national and international markets. WSDOT also provides grants and loans to short-line railroads to help fund improvements.

Purpose of State Rail Plan

Rail is an important part of our Washington statewide transportation system that keeps people and businesses moving. Whether moving products from the eastside of the state to western Washington ports and beyond, connecting passengers to cities in Washington, British Columbia and Oregon, or transporting commuters to work and home, our rail network helps our economy, environment and quality of life. As demand for rail increases, future service and infrastructure must be planned.

This plan is intended to provide direction for the state rail network investments over the next 20 years, supported with tangible actions in the near, mid and long term for WSDOT and its railroad partners. Investments lead to improved passenger rail service and goods movement between key markets in the state and region. Your input on the plan will help form the goals for the statewide rail network that investments are measured against. Measurable performance objectives will be developed under each goal category to track our progress.

Plan timeline

Current, comprehensive data will be analyzed in the 2025 State Rail Plan. Priorities from communities and transportation agencies, as well as public feedback, are critical to the analysis. This is the first opportunity for you to provide input on the plan. We will be requesting feedback on the initial results of our analysis later this year during review of the draft plan.

Four steps are shown for the State Rail Plan. First, how to sign up to get information. Second Join us (now) to engage and provide feedback on plan goals. Later, communities will have a chance to review the draft plan. Finally, the plan will be submitted

The State Rail Plan will have two major opportunities for public feedback.

Goals and planning

At this early stage, understanding community priorities for the state rail network is key to advancing the plan. Emphasizing different goals could inform how the rail network could be improved to address the needs of communities.

The State Rail Plan will balance community priorities with rail needs, growth and funding opportunities. In our feedback section below, we ask for your ideas for how the State Rail Plan should emphasize different goals.

Following are some ideas of goals that reflect existing rail plans and state transportation policies that could be included in the rail plan.

  • Mobility

    Streamline the rail network as part of the statewide multimodal transportation system.

    Promote the rail system for passengers and freight shippers by enhancing service reliability, schedules, local connections, and more choices to meet demand.

    Could focus on enhancing service integration and reliability, which may include the number and timing of trips, ability to reach other destinations from rail hubs, like jobs, events, universities, hospitals, or airports through connected local transfers.

  • Economic vitality

    Enhance rail's contribution to Washington state's economy.

    Increase rail access for passengers and freight to boost economic opportunities, ease demands on the highway system and improve communities' quality of life statewide.

    Future strategies could emphasize serving a regional workforce with access to affordable housing centers. It could focus on how freight serves a statewide economy, including access to the rail network and the transfer of freight to trains, trucks, or cargo ships.

  • Preservation

    Ensure current assets and future investments are preserved and maintained.
    Strengthen rail owners' and operators' ability to maintain industry standards, as they keep rail cars, tracks and facilities working to their highest capability.

    Considers how to maintain, preserve and extend the life and utility of prior investments in rail systems and services. This includes the preservation of infrastructure needed to support rail network operations.

  • Environment

    Increase the environmental sustainability of the Washington transportation system through rail improvements

    Identify how to align greenhouse gas emission reductions codified in state law by lowering the rail contribution to emissions as well as encouraging increased rail use for moving people and freight.

    Could focus on how the rail system to support climate and other environmental goals, including trains that reduce emissions, rail service that support a reduction in vehicle miles traveled.

  • Stewardship

    Steward a rail network that benefits all communities in Washington.

    Prioritize programs and investments that promote an efficient, resilient, and equitable rail network across the state for movement of people and freight.

    This could include actions that make the rail network less vulnerable to major disruptions. It could meet the needs of each community by responding to local needs in a fair and equitable way.

  • Safety

    Strive for zero fatalities and serious injuries on the rail network.

    Prioritize improvements and education that increase safety by reducing injuries, fatalities and collisions.

    Future investments could include addressing rail crossings, safety education and/or adding fencing along certain corridors.

Your turn: give your feedback

Please provide feedback for the Washington State Rail Plan, based on the needs of your community. This survey should take 12-15 minutes to complete. Comments will be taken until June 24, 2025.

Thank you

Your feedback and participation for the State Rail Plan will inform the vision for our future rail corridors in Washington State. Thank you.

WSDOT’s Rail, Freight and Ports Division is developing the State Rail Plan. All feedback received will be read and considered by the project team, and incorporated into a draft plan. Early findings for the draft plan are likely to be available in Fall 2025.

WSDOT Title VI Statement

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