Crude By Rail: New Destinations, Increasing Capacity 2014

Crude By Rail: New Destinations, Increasing Capacity 2014 has come at a time where the rail industry faces several big question marks - some even as big as questioning the longevity of rail as an economically competitive mode of crude takeaway. With the collapse in price differentials, new pipeline projects not far from completion and additional costs potentially incurred from new rail car modification mandates, the evaluation of available capacity, economics and logistics of getting to different rail terminal destinations could not come at a better time.

As crude oil volumes continue to rise, the demand for increased capacity to take crude to new markets quickly and economically, is on the rise with it. Producers and refiners want to know the latest offloading terminal locations, railroad connectivity to new and emerging markets in the West, Gulf and East Coast, cycle times, volume capacities and the cost of transportation to enable a thorough evaluation of the market differentials of moving crude to different rail markets vs. pipeline. Against the current climate, it is crucial that railroads stay competitive and as a result, the congress will be focused around how rail operators are planning to meet the demands of refiners and producers through the expansion of railroads, rail cars and terminal capacity.