Massive 3-Mile Freight Trains Create Texas Traffic Chaos

3-Mile Freight Trains

Freight trains in Texas are causing major disruptions when they cross busy roadways, with some trains now stretching over 3 miles in length. In towns like Pleasantville, Texas, traffic is often halted for up to seven minutes as these lengthy trains pass through.

The problem is especially pronounced near rail yards operated by Union Pacific, which was recently featured in a Wall Street Journal article discussing the rise of these “monster trains.”

The report notes that these extra-long trains are part of a strategy to boost profits, as they allow companies to transport more goods with fewer locomotives and less crew.

Currently, there are no federal regulations limiting train length, although regulators are reviewing the issue. While more than a dozen states, including Texas, have proposed limiting train lengths to 1.6 miles, these laws remain unenforceable due to interstate commerce regulations.

Union Pacific has become the leading source of complaints regarding blocked crossings, with some of its trains reaching up to 3.8 miles in length. In the last quarter, the company’s average train length was reported to be 1.8 miles, up from 1.3 miles in 2018.

The Wall Street Journal highlighted how the increasing size of these trains leads to significant delays for drivers, especially when they move slowly or come to a stop.

Emergency vehicles like ambulances, fire trucks, and school buses are frequently delayed, and pedestrians and cyclists sometimes risk their lives by crossing between stationary train cars. Tragically, a 27-year-old woman in Texas lost her life in July after attempting to cross between cars of a stopped train when it suddenly began moving.

Texas, the state with the highest number of blocked rail crossings, saw over 8,000 reports of blocked crossings last year, a staggering figure compared to Illinois’ 1,600 reports. This surge is largely driven by the state’s rising population and increased container traffic from Gulf Coast ports.

Jim Vena, Union Pacific’s CEO, acknowledged the issue, stating, “Any time a train operates through a community—whether it’s 3,000 feet long or 10,000 feet long—it’s going to impact roadways and communities.”

However, rail companies argue that longer trains contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while labor unions warn they pose significant safety risks and threaten jobs.

For local residents like 70-year-old Ramon Rios, the delays caused by these massive trains are a daily inconvenience. His son, who has special needs, often faces delays in getting home when their service driver is stopped at a rail crossing.

“If you get caught right at the train tracks with traffic behind you, you can’t get out,” Rios explained, adding that the situation becomes particularly unbearable in the Texas heat.

Houston City Council member Letitia Plummer captured the frustration of many, saying, “People can’t get to work on time in the mornings or get back home in the evenings. And now our children are crawling underneath the trains to cross the railroad tracks.”