Texas North Western Railway Company (TXNW), a subsidiary of TNW Corporation of Dallas, has completed an $8.2 million project to rebuild, reconfigure, and extend its rail interchange with BNSF in Etter, Tex. The goal, the short line said, was to eliminate a significant operational bottleneck and ensure that it could safely handle longer, heavier trains.
The project was funded through a 50/50 cost share between TXNW and the Federal Railroad Administration, which awarded the short line $4.1 million through its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program.
According to the railroad’s July 22 announcement, the work included:
- Relocating and installing new turnouts and constructing new crossovers to improve the fluidity of interchange operations between TXNW and BNSF’s Boise City subdivision.
- Extending two sidings to enable the efficient assembly and disassembly of full-length unit trains.
- Upgrading the track structure to allow for the safe movement of railcars weighing up to 286,000 pounds.
- Installing dual-tone multi-frequency power-controlled switches, reducing manual operations, improving crew safety, and increasing operational efficiency.
“Safety and community benefits were central to the project,” reported TXNW, which is part of BNSF’s Shortline Select program. “Improvements to grade crossings, including upgraded active warning devices, new swing gates and extended advance warning times, will enhance public safety.”
Beyond infrastructure, TXNW said, the project has driven “meaningful economic benefits” for Moore County and the region. Over the nine-month construction period, more than 100 new jobs were created directly and indirectly, fueling local activity across hotels, restaurants, fuel suppliers, hardware stores, and housing. Additionally, the project’s completion positions Moore County as a stronger hub for freight logistics, supporting local industries such as agriculture, energy, and manufacturing, while expanding opportunities for future business growth and increasing the local tax base, it noted.
“TXNW’s progress was made possible through collaboration with federal and state partners, local governments, and key stakeholders,” the short line said. “TNW Corporation extends its gratitude to the FRA; Gov. Greg Abbott; U.S. Sen. John Cornyn; U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz; U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (TX-13); the Texas Department of Transportation; officials from Moore County and the cities of Dumas, Sunray and Cactus; and customers including Valero Marketing and Supply, Continental Carbon, Bunge, and Nutrient Ag Solutions, along with interchanging partner BNSF.”
TXNW plans to host a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony in late August to commemorate the project’s completion and recognize the support of all stakeholders.
