Central Utah Rail Project
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This page was last updated on April 13, 2026.
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Six County Association of Governments
Overview
The Six County Association of Governments is a voluntary consortium of local governments dedicated to economic development in the member counties of Sevier, Juab, Sanpete, Millard, Piute, and Wayne Counties, Utah.
In July 2001, the Association proposed to built a 43-mile railroad for the transportation of coal from the SUFCO coal mine east of Salina, to a connection with Union Pacific at Levan.
Central Utah Rail Project
Project Description: Construct 45-mile short-line railroad from UP main line west of Levan, Utah to Salina, Utah near I-70. This restores service previously provided by the Marysville branch, which was closed by a landslide and flood in 1983.
Project Benefits: Provide cost-effective alternative to truck transport for existing industries; improve their connections to international seaports; improve their overall competitiveness and preserve jobs and tax revenues; reduce heavy truckloads on area highways; reduce pollution; and improve safety.
Central Utah Short Line Rail Project -- Construction of a short line railroad (43 miles) for the transportation of bulk commodities. A primary reason behind the Central Utah Rail Project is to secure the future of the largest coal mine in Utah, while greatly reducing the community and infrastructure impact of shipping total coal over 80 miles by truck from SUFCO Mine to the Union Pacific main line. The local economic impact of maintaining 500 full-time jobs and preservation of over 28% of Sevier County's tax base is significant. In addition to coal traffic, shipper businesses that stand to benefit are livestock and crop farmers, a gypsum manufacturer, a rock salt mine, forest products and existing businesses. To date, Congress approved Senator Bennett's request of $1,000,000. The project received preliminary approval from the Federal Surface Transportation Board. A feasibility study has been completed, which recommends the project move forward. Interested groups have been briefed and public information meetings held. The environmental review process is now underway. (2003 National Resource Conservation and Development Conference, July 20-23, 2003, San Antonio, Texas)
Initial Timeline (2001-2007)
July 30, 2001
The Six County Association of Governments applied to the federal Surface Transportation Board for approval to build a 43-mile rail line between Levan and Salina, Utah. The intention of the new company is to serve shippers in the area, particularly the coal operations of Southern Utah Fuels Co. (SUFCO). (STB Finance Docket 34075, decided April 28, 2004)
October 26, 2001
The new Central Utah Rail Project received initial federal Surface Transportation Board approval for its proposed rail line between Levan and Salina. The STB found that from the economics viewpoint, and the transportation needs viewpoint, the proposed railroad met ball rerquirements of federal law (49 USC 10502 and 49 USC 10901) (Salt Lake Tribune, November 13, 2001; STB Finance Docket 34075, decided April 28, 2004)
- The Central Utah Rail Project is a proposed 43-mile short-line railroad in central Utah, tentatively approved by the federal Surface Transportation Board. It would connect Sevier County to existing Union Pacific tracks in Juab County, restoring rail service lost in a 1983 mudslide.
- The project's primary purpose is to support SUFCO, Utah's largest coal mine, which currently relies on 600 daily trucks to haul coal 82 miles to a rail facility — one of the longest coal-haul routes in the country. A rail line would cut that distance in half, reducing costs and making the mine more competitive. The project would also benefit other local businesses, improve highway safety, and potentially attract new industry to the economically depressed region.
- Estimated at $75 million (likely funded by revenue bonds), the project still requires an environmental study. Four routes are under consideration, with the Sevier River Valley route preferred.
July 19, 2002
Projected cost of the Central Utah Rail Project was reported to be $70 million.
November 2003
From KSL-TV, November 30, 2003:
The proposal is for Utah's first major new railroad in decades. One coal train would replace 750 trucks. That would make a huge difference in downtown Salina.
Roughly 750 truckloads of coal head north each day. 750 empty trucks make the return trip. They're hauling coal from the Sufco Mine East of Salina to a loading facility on the Union Pacific railroad near Levan. On average, one big truck a minute drives past homes and businesses, including Mom's Cafe.
Most people don't seem to mind because all that noise is the sound of money. "The noise, it don't bother us. But the vibration, we have to straighten our pictures once in awhile."
But officials from six counties have been studying the idea of building a 45-mile railroad line from Salina to the Union Pacific Main Line. That would substantially reduce truck hauling on city streets. It would cost something like 75 million dollars. But county officials say it offers other economic benefits.
The idea has been under study locally for several years. Now a federal agency is doing an Environmental Impact Study.
December 24, 2003
STB issued its draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the construction of the Central Utah Rail Project. Public meetings were held at Salina on October 22-23, 2003 in Salina and Gunnison as part of the environmental impact process, which was begun in September 2003. (STB Finance Docket 34075, decided April 28, 2004)
April 28, 2004
STB issued its guiding "Final Scope" for the EIS for the construction of the Central Utah Rail Project. (STB Finance Docket 34075, decided April 28, 2004)
- 43 miles in length
- An average of one or two trains per day comprising 100- to 110 cars each, totaling approximately 42,000 to 44,000 cars per year.
- Coal is to be the principle commodity
- SUFCO mine is located 30 miles east of Salina, and coal is to be moved by truck from the mine to Salina where it will be loaded into rail cars.
- Approximately 750 trucks per day travel over the roads between the SUFCO mine and the current coal loadout at Sharps.
- Life of coal mine projected by SUFCO to be at least 25 years.
- 2003 production of SUFCO mine was 7.2 million tons, with projected 7.4 million tons in 2004
- Additional coal reserves exist in the area and will likely see future development after the rail line is completed.
- Non-coal businesses in the region could also use the railroad, including Redmond Minerals for its salt mine at Redmond which ships 62,500 tons of natural salt per year. Western Clay at Aurora is also interested, and ships 60,000 tons of sodium bentonite "drilling mud" per year. (Salt Lake Tribune, June 3, 2004)
- Proposed railroad to be constructed in-part on land owned and administered by the federal Bureau of Land Mangement.
- Connect with Union Pacfic at or near Levan.
- EIS No. 20070272, Draft EIS, STB, UT, Central Utah Rail Project, Six Counties Association of Governments, Construction and Operation Exemption Rail Line between Levan and Salina, Right-of-Way Application, Docket No. FD 34075, Sanpete, Sevier, Juab Counties, UT. Comment Period Ends 08/22/2007.
September 16, 2004
Utah Senator Bob Bennett submitted to the Senate Appropriations Committe, an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2005 Transportation Appropriations Bill calling for "$400,000 for the Central Utah Rail Project. The appropriated funds will be used to finish the Environmental Impact Statement for the project, which will begin at Sigurd in Sevier County and terminate at Levan in Juab County. The rail line will be used primarily for the shipment of commodities, such as coal, salt and turkey feed. This will help eliminate the use of heavy coal trucks along State Route 89." (Press release, Senator Bob Bennett, September 16, 2004)
May 2006
A new freight line for Utah? -- The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded a grant totaling $1,008,948 to the Six County Association of Governments in Utah for an environmental impact analysis of the proposed 43-mile Utah Central Valley Rail Line. The line would extend from coal mines in Salina to a connection with Union Pacific near Levan. Its main traffic would be two 100-car coal trains a day. The counties involved are Juab, Millard, Sevier, Sanpete, Piute, and Wayne. (Railway Age, May 2006, page 6)
June 29, 2007
STB released its draft environmental impact statement, with the comment period ending on August 22, 2007.
Update, May 2015
May 28, 2015
From Progressive Railroading, May 28, 2015.
The Surface Transportation Board's Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) has issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed construction and operation of a 43-mile rail line between Levan and Salina, Utah, the agency announced late last week.
The Six County Association of Governments, an association of central Utah local governments, is seeking approval to construct and operate the line, which would run from a proposed coal transfer facility in Salina to a connection with a Union Pacific Railroad mainline near Levan. The rail line would allow allow coal currently being shipped by truck to be transported by rail.
OEA worked with the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prepare the FEIS, according to an OEA press release.
The line would provide rail access to local industries, primarily the Southern Utah Fuel Company coal mine owned by Bowie Resources, OEA officials said in the FEIS.
The agency identified Alternative B3/B2 as the environmentally preferable alternative for the proposed rail line because it would have the least impact on water resources, including wetlands and associated biological resources, the statement said.
The following comes from Railway Track & Structures, May 29, 2015:
STB releases FEIS for proposed Utah line -- The Surface Transportation Board's Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) has issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed construction and operation of a 43-mile rail line between Levan and Salina, Utah. Approval to construct and operate the line is being sought by the Six County Association of Governments' (Six Counties), an association of local governments located in central Utah.
The rail line would run from a proposed coal transfer facility in Salina to a connection with a Union Pacific mainline near Levan and would allow coal currently being shipped by truck to be transported by rail. OEA worked with two cooperating agencies, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, on the Final EIS.
The Final EIS sets forth OEA's final recommendations to the board on an environmentally preferred alternative route and mitigation measures to minimize environmental impacts, based on OEA's consultation with federal, state and local agencies and input from citizens and organizations in Utah. Issuance of the Final EIS completes the environmental review process, following a 2007 Draft EIS and a 2014 Supplemental Draft EIS. The board now will decide whether to grant final approval for the proposal. In reaching a final decision, the board will take into consideration the Draft EIS, Supplemental DEIS and Final EIS, including OEA's final recommendations.
Update, April 2026
April 12, 2026
From Progressive Railroading, April 12, 2026.
FRA grants $1 million to get Utah rail line's environmental study off the ground.
The Federal Railroad Administration recently awarded a $1 million grant to a six-county Utah government association, which will use proceeds to begin an environmental impact assessment of a proposed 43-mile line in the state’s central valley region.
Extending from coal mines in Salina to a Union Pacific Railroad connection near Levan, the line would be used by two 100-car coal trains per day and average 44,000 coal cars per year.
The association will use the grant to fund preliminary engineering work required by the Surface Transportation Board, which will decide whether the line should be built.
Map
Central Utah Rail Project -- A Google Map that shows the major points along the route of the planned Central Utah Rail Project to provide lower transportation costs to coal mines in central Utah.
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