BNSF's Northern Transcon runs from Seattle to Chicago. It is a nationally important shipping line for containers, agricultural products en route Pacific markets and used by Amtrak for passenger service.  It is increasingly a conduit for fossil fuels including coal and unconventional oils (tar sands and Bakken crude).  Recently, these trains have begun straining system capacity, creating delays for both passengers and agricultural products.  Fossil fuel shipments face growing public opposition for numerous reasons, but the economics of rail and our transport system has created a dependence upon such heavy commodity transport.

Solutionary Rail offers an alternative to the dependence of rail on these controversial sunset industries. The alternative involves electrifying rail and utilizing carbon-free, renewable energy resources, which are abundant along the Northern Transcon route. It involves increasing system capacity and train speeds using better-performing electric locomotives. And it involves upgrading track to meet the demand for rapid delivery of high-value freight and passengers, which will grow as the nation transitions away from fossil fuels. As we show, rail electrification complements and supports the transition to reliance on renewable energy sources, like wind and solar. These are already the least expensive sources of new power in some locations.