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ACG <br />1. Class One carriers like BNSF prefer running 110 car unit trains or longer over assembling a <br />train to serve a limited number of industries in a business park. Efficiency is extremely im- <br />portant to this industry as railroads spend 12 to 15% of their annual revenues per year on <br />upgrading infrastructure and new equipment including larger more powerful locomotives <br />that are designed to move larger loads. This level of investment compares to about 5% in <br />other capital intensive industries. The frequency of unit trains on the BNSF route through <br />Ramsey will only increase as it is the main northerly route to the ports of Seattle and Van- <br />couver from the Chicago market as well as the main route for transporting Bakken oil to <br />refinery facilities in the south. <br />2. With upgraded crossings and grade separations currently planned or under construction <br />there will be pressure to increase speed through communities on the route thereby elevat- <br />ing the need to limit access. <br />3. There will be pressure in the long term to increase unit trains to 150 cars. Many coal unit <br />trains are now 123 cars. Because current infrastructure isn't capable of handling 150 car <br />unit trains, industry experts don't believe this will happen for at least 5 years or longer but it <br />is in the planning stages by the rail industry. <br />4. Except for locations near the Northtown Switching Yard in Fridley, it is highly unlikely that <br />rail dependent industries who do not currently have rail access will be allowed access to <br />rail in the north metro area as this would require the BNSF to brake track on a very high <br />traffic, fast moving line that is already in high demand. This view is tied directly to the pres- <br />sure for more speed and longer unit trains in the future. <br />5. Large industries that use freight today generally require large tracts of land and cannot af- <br />ford high land prices. These rail oriented industries are also incompatible with high popula- <br />tion areas due to likely user activities that include scrap metal to steel, fertilizer and anhy- <br />drous ammonia storage, chemical processing, storage and processing of agricultural com- <br />modities. <br />Ramsey Business Park Phase I Research Report 4 <br />