The Port of Vancouver USA moves everything from windmills and wood pulp to steel and automobiles. Many of our cargoes move by rail, and we own and maintain about 30 miles of rail lines within our boundaries. An ongoing rail improvement project, the West Vancouver Freight Access project, will increase that to nearly 50 miles by 2017.

Roughly 500 trains travel through the port each year. We work closely with our two carriers, BNSF Railway and Union Pacific, to maintain the highest level of safety on the rails. And we have the right combination of skilled people and state-of-the-art equipment to ensure the safe movement of cargo through our property, which extends from the heart of downtown to some of the most scenic recreational areas in west Vancouver.

Right people

Benny SeguraFlores has been constructing and maintaining railroad tracks for more than 20 years. As our Laborer Foreman, Benny oversees a crew of seven other skilled people who spend their days making sure trains run smoothly through the port, which is a hub for trains traveling on major north-south lines from Canada to Mexico, and east-west lines between the Pacific Northwest and Chicago.

Laborer Daryl Schill has 38 years in the construction industry. As an Employee In Charge, Daryl spends his days crisscrossing the port’s 800 marine and industrial acres. He coordinates with all track users, helping ensure their safety and getting people the access they need to the port’s rail system.

Port Rail Superintendent Isy Aguirre has 35 years of experience in railroad construction and maintenance. He joined the port in 2008, and by prioritizing rail maintenance, training staff, investing in equipment and salvaging quality materials from WVFA, Isy has leveraged every resource available to enhance the port’s rail system. His team helps keep trains running safely and smoothly through the port, and their work complements WVFA by bringing the port’s existing rail system to the level necessary for a world-class economic engine like the Port of Vancouver.

Right equipment

In early 2014, the port made another major investment in the quality and safety of our rail system: a state-of-the-art rail tamper. Using an infrared “eye,” the tamper scans our rail tracks in 3D, senses misalignment, and makes corrections by adjusting the tracks. It accounts for variables like weather and curves in track, and can make adjustments down to fractions of an inch.

Before purchasing the new tamper, port crews were using a manual laser and a 1970s-era tamper. The system worked, but it didn’t have the accuracy or lasting impact of the modern machine.

“This (new) system is absolutely magnificent,” said Ken Akerill, operating engineer and tamper driver. “The track will last longer if it’s correct.”

And that’s what the tamper does: it keeps track aligned and serviceable, helping ensure the infrastructure that supports business and trade in our region is safe and functional for decades to come.

Safety is paramount at the Port of Vancouver. We’re proud that our dedicated, experienced staff and strategic investments are keeping industry working safely while bringing economic benefit to our community.