Union Pacific to build $550 million classification yard in Robertson County
Union Pacific announced this week the construction of Brazos Yard, a 1,875-acre rail facility in Robertson County that will be the company's first newly built classification yard in more than two decades, and at $550 million the largest capital investment in a single facility in the company's 155-year history.
Jeff DeGraff, director of corporate relations and media for UP Railroad, said the decision to base the facility there was, in part, an easy one since the county and Hearne are "the crossroads of Texas."
Located south of U.S. 79, between the Brazos River and F.M. 50, DeGraff said the new facility will help with congestion from the seven existing UP rail lines in Hearne.
"Bringing a new facility to Texas, putting it there in Hearne, made a lot of sense for us because we have those access points," he said.
Read more: http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/union-pacific-to-build-million-classification-yard-in-robertson-county/article_01e9ecfd-ee45-5680-93da-d523b2361e77.html
I am concerned about the proximity of the rail yard in relation to the Brazos River considering the toxic compounds that are found in rail yards. There is a map at the link and I am also familiar with the area using F.M. 50 as a shortcut when driving between Brenham and Dallas.
