![](https://i1.wp.com/www.masoncountypress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/marquette-rail-yard-02-13-24_002.jpg?resize=576%2C324&ssl=1)
The Marquette Rail Ludington Yard
Marquette Rail seeking $16.4 million grant to repair tracks, yard
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
LUDINGTON — Marquette Rail, LLC is seeking a $16.4 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration to assist paying for $25.2 million in improvements to its main track and Ludington yard.
Marquette Rail (also known as MQT) operates 162 miles of railroad from Grand Rapids to Manistee and Ludington. It has interchange connections to CSX Transportation and the Grand Elk Railroad. It major businesses served include Occidental Chemical in Ludington, Packaging Corporation of America and Martin Marietta in Manistee.
On Monday, Feb. 12, the Ludington City Council passed a resolution to sponsor the grant application, at the request of MQT. The sponsorship is needed in order for the private company to apply for the grant, but does not cost the city any local tax dollars.
MQT will invest $6.8 million in the project and has also applied for a $2 million grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The grant would cover the upgrade 163,000 lineal feet of new and modern 115 pound and 136 pound per yard rail, plus 56,700 ties, one switch replacement, and supporting grade crossings on the main line. The Ludington yard would also be rehabilitated.
The project has also been endorsed by Occidental, PCA and Martin Marietta.
“The large Ludington rail yard is the hub of operations for the railroad and is utilized to sort and store customer railcars,” the grant application states. “The rail in the yard is old and deteriorated. Up to 50 percent of the tracks can be out of service due to poor rail conditions. Sections of the mainline track consist of older rail that is prone to internal defects and failures. These rail conditions in the yard an on the mainline have resulted in train derailments that have damaged customer railcars, loss of lading, and interruptions to service. The out of service yard tracks restrict the capacity of customer railcars MQT can handle and limits future growth.”
The application also cited the construction of a new potash mine by Michigan Potash & Salt Co. in Evart as a need for rail upgrades.
“The region is home to one of the highest quality natural potash and salt deposits in the entire world. With fertilizer demand on the increase and food security important, production of U.S. potash will offset the need to import the product from countries such as Russia and Belarus. The mine would produce both potash fertilizer and food-grade salt. The project would create more than 300 union construction jobs over three years and 180 full time jobs. The mind would have a lifespan of 150 years.”
Support local news for $10 a month
We hope you enjoy reading Mason County Press and Oceana County Press. Our services are provided to you through the generous support of our advertisers. Traditional newspaper models require subscriptions or purchase of an individual newspaper in order to see their product. We do not, and will not, require our readers to pay a subscription. However, we have had many of our kind readers ask how they can support us if they were to make a monthly contribution. For those who would like to contribute, we are suggesting $10 a month.
This can be paid several ways:
The easiest way is to sign up for an automatic monthly payment on Paypal. Click this link.
Alternative methods:
- We can send you an invoice each month, which you can conveniently pay online or by check. If you are interested in this method, please email editor@mediagroup31.com and we can sign you up. You can also mail a yearly check for $120 to Media Group 31, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454.
- We also accept Venmo payments.
We appreciate all our readers regardless of whether they chose to continue to access our service for free or with a monthly financial support.
This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2024, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.
Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals. Three ways to help us: Venmo: @MasonCountyPress; Paypal: MasonCountyPress@gmail.com; Mail a check to PO BOX 21, Scottville, MI 49454.