FRESNO (KMJ) — Plans to ship water on trains from the Midwest to the valley are being proposed.
Companies, governments, and individuals have already been approached to participate in the operation of a water test train, using a fleet of more than 300 railcars dedicated to the project.
“The beauty of a plan like this is that it is extremely mobile and flexible. One train could perhaps go into Chowchilla, the next train could go to Dinuba, it’s really based upon demand”, says President of Water Train David Rangel.
“Unlike a pipeline, we have the capabilities of moving these trains around literally at a moment’s notice”.
He says pipelines would take years of planning and development to create, but the train is ready to go now. He adds that they have everything they need to get started.
“We are a railroad. We are already plugged into the national network. We’re approaching this as one railroad to another railroad, instead of a customer or a shipper to a railroad so we’ve already overcome many of the hurdles that others might face”.
Taking water by rail has the potential to carry as much as 154 million gallons, and if everything goes to plan it’s hoped distribution sites will be in place for the start of next year’s growing season.
