View source for Phoenix Subdivision (Union Pacific Railroad)

{{Short description|Railroad line in Arizona}}
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{for|the similarly named BNSF line|Phoenix Subdivision (BNSF Railway)}}{{Infobox rail line
| image                           = UP Phoenix Yard at Sunset in March 2024.jpg
| caption                         = UP Phoenix Yard at Sunset in March 2024 with [[Chase Field]] in the background
| type                            = [[Inter-city rail]]<br />[[Freight rail]]
| locale                          = [[Arizona]]
| start                           = [[Eloy, AZ]]
| end                             = [[Wellton, AZ]]
| connectinglines                 = {{Unbulleted list|
[[Copper Basin Railway]]|
[[Magma Arizona Railroad]]|
[[Phoenix Subdivision (BNSF Railway)|Phoenix Subdivision (BNSF)]]
}}
| website                         = https://www.up.com/
| yearcompleted                   = 1928
| owner                           = [[Union Pacific Railroad]]
| operator                        = Union Pacific Railroad
| tracklength_mi                  =
| tracks                          = 1
| gauge                           = {{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| speed_mph                       =
| map                             = {{switcher
|{{maplink|from=Phoenix_Subdivision_(UP).map|frame=yes|text=🔴 Phoenix Subdivision (UP) ⚫ Inactive Portion 🔵 [[Gila Subdivision]] 🟠 [[Phoenix Subdivision (BNSF Railway)|Phoenix Subdivision (BNSF)]]}}
|Show interactive map
|{{UP Phoenix Subdivision|inline=y}}
|Show diagram map
}}
| map_state                       = show
}}
The '''Phoenix Subdivision''' is a railroad line in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Arizona]] owned by the [[Union Pacific Railroad]]. The southeast end of the line connects to the [[Gila Subdivision]] near [[Eloy, Arizona|Eloy]], runs northeast to [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], and becomes the Roll Industrial Lead, running southwest before reconnecting to the Gila Subdivision at [[Wellton, Arizona|Wellton]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bourque |first1=Scott |title=Q&AZ: What Happened To The Railroad Line West Of Phoenix? |url=https://kjzz.org/content/1186871/qaz-what-happened-railroad-line-west-phoenix |access-date=16 August 2021 |agency=KJZZ 91.5 |date=September 23, 2019}}</ref> {{As of|2010}}, {{convert|80|mi|spell=in}} of the line between [[Roll, Arizona|Roll]] and [[Arlington, Arizona|Arlington]] are out of service and used for car storage.<ref name=WelltonBranch />{{Rp|page=15}}
The railway is used by almost exclusively for freight movements, with about four trains per day {{as of|May 2018|lc=y}}.<ref>{{citation |title=2018 Regional Commuter Rail System Study Update |date=May 2018 |page=2-45 |url=http://azmag.gov/Portals/0/Documents-Ext/Transportation/Regional-%20Commuter-Rail-System-Study-Update%20Final-Report-%20optimized-10-2018.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518024038/http://azmag.gov/Portals/0/Documents-Ext/Transportation/Regional-%20Commuter-Rail-System-Study-Update%20Final-Report-%20optimized-10-2018.pdf |archive-date=2023-05-18 |url-status=dead |publisher=Maricopa Association of Governments}}</ref> The McElhaney Cattle Company maintains trackage rights over the western {{convert|6|mi|spell=in}} of the line, with traffic consisting of [[grain]] cars.<ref name=WelltonBranch />{{RP|page=15}}
On October 9th 1995, saboteurs [[1995 Palo Verde, Arizona, derailment|intentionally derailed]] the ''[[Sunset Limited]]'' near the town of [[Palo Verde, Arizona|Palo Verde]]. The perpetrators have never been caught.
[[Amtrak]] ran the ''Sunset Limited'' on the route until June 1996<ref name="WelltonBranch" />{{Rp|page=15}} when Union Pacific wanted to reduce upkeep costs on the west end of the line; passenger service was rerouted to [[Maricopa, Arizona|Maricopa]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Bob |date=2024-02-27 |title=FRA releases long-distance study interim report, invites comments |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/fra-releases-long-distance-study-interim-report-invites-comments/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229024119/https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/fra-releases-long-distance-study-interim-report-invites-comments/ |archive-date=29 February 2024 |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=[[Trains magazine|Trains]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The line is part of a system of [[Proposed commuter rail in the Phoenix metropolitan area|proposed commuter rail lines in the Phoenix metropolitan area]] and could be reopened to support that.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bourque |first=Scott |date=2019-09-23 |title=Q&AZ: What Happened To The Railroad Line West Of Phoenix? |url=https://kjzz.org/content/1186871/qaz-what-happened-railroad-line-west-phoenix |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923234206/https://kjzz.org/content/1186871/qaz-what-happened-railroad-line-west-phoenix |archive-date=23 September 2023 |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=[[KJZZ (FM)|KJZZ]] |language=en}}</ref>
==History==
The rail line between Wellton and Phoenix was built by the [[Southern Pacific Railroad]], with passenger service commencing in 1928.<ref name=WelltonBranch />{{Rp|page=15}} The line was downgraded to a branch line in 1997, as most traffic was rerouted via Maricopa.<ref name="WelltonBranch">{{cite news |date=14 December 2010 |title=Wellton Branch Railroad Line |url=http://azmag.gov/Portals/0/Documents/EDC_2010-12-21_AGD.pdf?ver=2017-04-06-111023-563 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518024038/http://azmag.gov/Portals/0/Documents/EDC_2010-12-21_AGD.pdf?ver=2017-04-06-111023-563 |archive-date=2023-05-18 |access-date=18 August 2021 |publisher=Maricopa Association of Governments}}</ref>{{Rp|page=15}}
=== Sunset Limited Bypassing of Phoenix ===
{{Also|Sunset_Limited#Bypassing_of_Phoenix}}
On June 2, 1996, the ''Sunset Limited'' was rerouted to a more southerly route between [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]], and [[Yuma, Arizona]], bypassing [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]. [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]], which had acquired Southern Pacific earlier in the year, wanted to abandon a decaying portion of its Phoenix–Yuma "West Line", particularly the Roll Industrial Lead, that had previously been used to serve Phoenix. UP demanded that Amtrak pay for the maintenance, which they would not do.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Bob |date=2024-02-27 |title=FRA releases long-distance study interim report, invites comments |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/fra-releases-long-distance-study-interim-report-invites-comments/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229024119/https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/fra-releases-long-distance-study-interim-report-invites-comments/ |archive-date=29 February 2024 |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=[[Trains magazine|Trains]] |language=en-US}}</ref> This made Phoenix one of the [[List of major cities in the United States lacking inter-city rail service|nation's largest cities without direct passenger service]]; although the designated [[Maricopa station|Phoenix-area stop]] is in [[Maricopa, Arizona|Maricopa]], a suburban community about {{convert|40|mi}} south of downtown Phoenix. [[Amtrak Thruway]] service, run by Stagecoach Express, connects the two cities.<ref name="schedule">{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2019 |title=Sunset Limited Schedule; Effective November 3, 2019 |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/timetables/Sunset-Limited-Schedule-110319.pdf |access-date=January 29, 2020 |website=Amtrak}}</ref>
=== Proposals to Reopen the Wellton Branch ===
Since its closure, officials have intermittently considered different options for how to reopen the line and restore ''Sunset Limited'' direct passenger service to Phoenix and potentially launch LA intercity service. The most recent study was conducted by [[Arizona Department of Transportation|ADOT]] in an effort to understand the existing condition of the Wellton Branch and to develop improvement scenarios and capital cost estimates for freight and passenger rail service between Arlington and Wellton, a distance of {{convert|90.8|mi}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014 |title=Wellton Branch Rail Rehabilitation Study |url=https://azdot.gov/planning/transportation-programs/state-rail-plan/wellton-branch-rail-rehabilitation-study |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228063221/https://azdot.gov/planning/transportation-programs/state-rail-plan/wellton-branch-rail-rehabilitation-study |archive-date=2024-02-28 |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=[[ADOT]]}}</ref> In that study, it was determined that current freight demand along the Wellton Branch line/ Phoenix Subdivision does not warrant re-opening the Wellton Branch and that Re-opening this corridor solely for passenger service is not cost effective.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=March 2014 |title=Wellton Branch Rehabilitation Study - Brocure |url=https://azdot.gov/sites/default/files/media/2021/12/ADOT-Wellton-Branch-Study-Brochure.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331153510/https://azdot.gov/sites/default/files/media/2021/12/ADOT-Wellton-Branch-Study-Brochure.pdf |archive-date=2024-03-31 |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=[[ADOT]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=March 2014 |title=Wellton Branch Railroad Rehabilitation Study - 2014 Final Report |url=https://azdot.gov/sites/default/files/media/2021/12/ADOT-Wellton-Branch-Study-Final-Report.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330130036/https://azdot.gov/sites/default/files/media/2021/12/ADOT-Wellton-Branch-Study-Final-Report.pdf |archive-date=2024-03-30 |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=[[ADOT]]}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Results of ADOT's Wellton Branch Railroad Rehabilitation Study<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
!
![[Rail speed limits in the United States#Track classes|Track grade]]
!Freight max speed
!Passenger max speed
!Total Est. Cost (millions)
!Avg. Cost/Route mile (millions)
|-
|1
|Class 2 Track
|25 mph
|NA
|$165.4
|$1.8
|-
|2
|Class 3 Track
|40 mph
|60 mph
|$194.8
|$2.1
|-
|2A
|Class 3 w/PTC
|40 mph
|60 mph
|$266.0
|$2.9
|-
|3
|Class 4 Track
|60 mph
|79 mph
|$420.3
|$4.6
|}
==Phoenix Intermodal Terminal==
Phoenix Intermodal Terminal was announced in November 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stephens |first=Bill |date=2023-12-08 |title=Union Pacific to open new international intermodal terminal in Phoenix |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/union-pacific-to-open-new-international-intermodal-terminal-in-phoenix/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214165051/https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/union-pacific-to-open-new-international-intermodal-terminal-in-phoenix/ |archive-date=14 February 2024 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=[[Trains magazine|Trains]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jensen |first=Audrey |date=1 December 2023 |title=Union Pacific intermodal railyard in Phoenix sets opening date in 2024 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2023/12/01/union-pacific-intermodal-phoenix-rail-yard.html?utm_medum=ptr |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=[[American City Business Journals|Phoenix Business Journal]]}}</ref> and operation began on February 1, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-08 |title=Union Pacific opens Phoenix intermodal facility |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/union-pacific-opens-phoenix-intermodal-facility/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208151629/https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/union-pacific-opens-phoenix-intermodal-facility/ |archive-date=8 February 2024 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=[[Trains magazine|Trains]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The facility is located in UP's Phoenix Yard and will serve shipments coming from the [[Port of Los Angeles]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phoenix Intermodal Terminal |url=http://www.up.com/up/customers/premium/intmap/phoenix/index.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214170421/https://www.up.com/customers/premium/intmap/phoenix/index.htm |archive-date=14 February 2024 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=[[Union Pacific]] |language=en}}</ref> Drayage service will be provide by Duncan & Sons, a local logistics firm.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marsh |first=Joanna |date=2023-11-29 |title=Union Pacific to operate international intermodal terminal in Phoenix |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/union-pacific-to-operate-international-intermodal-terminal-in-phoenix |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220214414/https://www.freightwaves.com/news/union-pacific-to-operate-international-intermodal-terminal-in-phoenix |archive-date=2023-12-20 |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=FreightWaves |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
== Sources ==
* {{Cite web |last=Pry |first=Mark |last2=Andersen |first2=Fred |date=December 2011 |title=Arizona Transportation History |url=https://www.ansac.az.gov/UserFiles/PDF/02032016/C040-EngelmanBergerCities%20Supplement/Arizona%20Transportation%20History%20Final%20Report%20660%20December%202011%20(00650539xB0704).PDF |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606100134/http://ansac.az.gov/UserFiles/PDF/02032016/C040-EngelmanBergerCities%20Supplement/Arizona%20Transportation%20History%20Final%20Report%20660%20December%202011%20(00650539xB0704).PDF |archive-date=2017-06-06 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=[[ADOT]]}}
{{US-rail-transport-stub}}
[[Category:Rail infrastructure in Arizona]]
[[Category:Union Pacific Railroad lines]]
[[Category:Rail transportation in Phoenix, Arizona]]