Rails Aim To Compete In Produce Transport

A group of rail companies and the Washington State Department of Transportation are collaborating in a venture to ship fresh fruit from Washington to East Coast markets.

"Washington Fruit Express" is a joint effort between RailAmerica, Amtrak, Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway, Washington State Department of Transportation, ExpressTrak and growers.
The "Washington Fruit Express" rushes Washington State apples, pears and cherries to East Coast markets in refrigerated ExpressTrak rail cars attached to Amtrak passenger trains. Traditionally, these products are trucked to market.
The companies say the new service is comparable in speed and price to truck transport, taking approximately five days.