A Faster Track.

• Author: SCHMITZ, RICHARD F.
• Position: The Alaska Railroad - Brief Article

The Alaska Railroad is straightening tracks and eliminating grade crossings to provide faster transit service and to increase safety.

For a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, eliminating curves would be a disaster. But for the Alaska Railroad, every curve that's straightened--or grade crossing eliminated--is a valuable efficiency and a safety improvement.

This year the Alaska Railroad will begin work on a track-straightening and upgrade project between Anchorage and Wasilla. The project helps smooth the way for possible commuter rail service connecting the fast-growing MatSu Borough with Anchorage.

Plans are also under study for large-scale track realignments around Wasilla and North Pole. But the more pressing task is to increase safety margins by eliminating grade crossings and sections of track perhaps more prone to costly derailments.

Seeing these projects through will take time, perseverance and money as rights of way must be altered and land trades negotiated.

"Reducing the sharpness of a curve really improves safety," said Kraig Hughes, director of project management for the Alaska Railroad. "We'll have definite improvements on road crossings, and quicker travel times to Fairbanks." Hughes estimated between 60 minutes and 90 minutes will be cut off the present travel time between Anchorage and Fairbanks through curve realignments, additional sidings and utilization of automatic switching.

Straighter track also means improved line of sight for engineers, reduced wear on track and railroad equipment, and reduced noise and vibration.

From Anchorage to Wasilla

The railroad's improvement effort between Anchorage and Wasilla includes about a half dozen separate projects, Hughes explained. They include:

* Adding a second track in South Anchorage, from Klatt Road to International Airport Road.

* Adding a "Y" connection to a spur into Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

* Continuing the addition of a second track into the railroad's main yard.

* Eliminating curves and designated road crossings from the rail yard to Eagle River, and then on to Knik River.

* Finalize engineering for track straightening from Knik River to Wasilla.

According to the Alaska Railroad's project summary, the Anchorage to Wasilla realignment will reduce the severity of approximately 70 sharp curves, improving the running time over the stretch by an impressive 40 minutes. The project, which began this construction season, is scheduled to be wrapped up by 2003.

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