Railroads Ramp Up To Support The Bakken -- North Dakota and Montana

Oil Unit Training Pulling Out of Williston, Heading East Toward Minot

Link here.

Both BNSF Railway and Yellowstone Valley Railroad (YSVR) are increasing railroad services in Montana to support growing oil production from the Williston Basin and the Bakken Shale.

BNSF and YSVR have amended their lease agreements on the railway route between Snowden and Glendive, Montana, to support increased oil transport traffic.

“The tremendous growth of oil production in the Williston Basin and the Bakken Shale formation over the last several years has resulted in significant increases in traffic volumes in and out of this area,” said Dean Wise, BNSF vice president, network strategy. “This amended agreement will allow BNSF and YSVR to respond to the changing demands of our customers, improve direct service and unit train handling efficiencies, and continue to invest to serve this rapidly growing part of the Montana and North Dakota economies.”

By the fall of 2011, BNSF will offer service for unit trains, and YSVR will offer service for any other traffic along the rail line between Snowden and Crane.

This is just a snapshot of a much bigger story. Throughout the Bakken, I saw more oil loading facilities being built along railroad tracks, sidetracks filled with brand new oil tank cars, etc.