BRG Continues to Pick Up Steam

The Port of Brownsville’s diverse transportation logistics are strengthened by its collaboration with the Brownsville Rio Grande International Railway (BRG). Rail transportation remained vital throughout 2020 as the BRG reached a record-setting number of 51,115 loaded railcars handled at the port throughout the year.

The number of annual carloads in 2020 marked a 24 percent increase from the 41,207 railcar movements in 2019 thanks to an upward trend of growing movements of steel, wind energy components, grain and refined petroleum products. The previous record was set in 2018 with 46,043 carloads.

Formed in 1984 by the Brownsville Navigation District, the BRG provides consistent, safe and reliable service to Port of Brownsville users, operating on more than 45 miles of port rail. The shortline railroad provider offers the port and its customers access to three Class 1 railroads — Union Pacific, Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Kansas City Southern de México for access into Mexico.

Since 2014, OmniTRAX Inc., under agreement, has managed the BRG enhancing services for port rail users while aiming to attract new shippers in the manufacturing and distribution industries.

Other products handled by the shortline railroad include liquid and dry bulk, agricultural products, project cargo and general commodities.

The Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway offers the port and its customers access to three Class 1 railroads — UnionPacific, Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Kansas City Southern de México for access into Mexico.

The BRG projects annual carloads to increase thanks to the growing movements of steel and petroleum products into Mexico.