Oklahoma’s Kiamichi Railroad was awarded a $10 million federal grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund improvements. In a story published Tuesday by Randy Ellis of The Oklahoman, the award will pay half of the project cost with the rest funded by the railroad owner.
The project includes replacement of approximately 23 miles of rail lines and 15 turnouts, with 31 bridges reinforced, 17 curves resurfaced, 13 miles of track restored and improvement to nearly a dozen rail crossings. Trains will be able to increase speeds up to 25 mph upon completion of the project. The project will allow rail carload weights up to 286,000 lbs.
“This funding will not only bring needed upgrades to this vital railway, but it will bring necessary rail access to the people of southeast Oklahoma, spurring regional economic activity and job growth,” said Sen. Jim Inhofe. “I have always said one of the most important things we should be doing here in Congress is ensuring our infrastructure is up to date.”
The project will restore rail service between Antlers and Hugo. The Kiamichi Railroad interchanges with BNSF in Madill; Union Pacific in Durant and Hope, Ark; and Kansas City Southern in Ashdown, Ark., according to Randy Ellis of The Oklahoman.
The Class III short-line railroad company operates on 200 miles of track in southeastern Oklahoma, 36 miles of track in Arkansas and 30 miles of track in northeast Texas (30 miles). Much of the project is located on the tribal lands of the Choctaw Nation.
The Kiamichi Railroad typically hauls coal, lumber, minerals, stone, pulp and paper.