Tulsa Ports to Add $23M Unit-Train Rail Project
The first phase of a unit-train rail expansion at the Port of Catoosa is set to finish at the end of November 2026.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Transportation
Live Poll
Should Oklahoma use state funds to expand rail capacity at the Port of Catoosa?
Tulsa Ports is completing the first phase of a $23 million project adding unit-train handling at the Port of Catoosa, with the phase expected to finish at the end of November 2026. The project adds a dedicated rail access point separate from the port's main entrance.
Why it matters
Separating unit trains from manifest trains lets the port accept and dispatch both types at once, avoiding operational conflicts on the current route used by BNSF and PCIR. The expansion positions the port to serve shippers across northeast Oklahoma.
The first phase carries a $23 million price tag and adds arrival, departure and runaround tracks, each arrival and departure track stretching about 8,300 feet. The second phase includes a single-span bridge more than 200 feet long, and the timeline for its completion remains subject to the 2027 schedule.
The players
Tulsa Ports
Tulsa Ports is the public port authority that operates the Port of Catoosa and oversees its industrial park and rail infrastructure.
BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway is a Class I railroad that operates the 3.2-mile mainline serving the Port of Catoosa.
OmniTRAX
OmniTRAX is a private rail services company that became the Port of Catoosa's exclusive rail switching service provider in 2022.
The details
The first phase adds arrival, departure and runaround tracks plus a crossover, creating a second rail access point for unit trains that is clear of grade crossings at the port's main entrance. The second phase, awarded to a contractor, connects the new tracks to the main rail infrastructure and includes a single-span through-plate girder bridge.
Timeline
End of November 2026: First phase of the unit-train project is scheduled to be completed.
January 2027: Utilities work is scheduled to begin for the second phase.
March 2027: Trackwork is expected to start.
Late 2027: The entire new line is estimated to be operational.
Transportation Outlook
The Port of Catoosa is one of the largest inland riverports in the United States, and this project extends its capacity for rail-based cargo handling. Oklahoma's legislature funded the expansion, placing the port's growth within the state's inland logistics investment.
Shippers in northeast Oklahoma gain a dedicated rail option for unit trains once the new line is operational, which could affect freight routing and costs for businesses that use the port. Until the second phase is complete, the existing rail access remains the route for current traffic.
The takeaway
Port rail projects of this kind separate freight types to keep traffic moving, and the Catoosa expansion shows how state funding and private rail operators can work together on that goal.
What happens next
Utilities work for the second phase is scheduled to begin in January 2027, with trackwork expected to start in March 2027 and the full line projected to be operational by late 2027.
Further reading
For more on regional freight infrastructure, explore Transportation coverage across Tulsa.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RailPrime.
Live Poll
Should Oklahoma use state funds to expand rail capacity at the Port of Catoosa?
