New Eastern WA rail deal to help farmers get products to Puget Sound ports
The Port of Pasco is pitching Big Pasco Industrial Park as an inland port offering direct rail connections to ocean ports on Puget Sound.
The inland port could be a cost-effective option for Mid-Columbia farmers and business that rely on trucks to carry goods across Snoqualmie Pass.
The port is finalizing an agreement with Savage Enterprises LLC to turn a neglected stretch of land between railroad tracks at Big Pasco into a rail hub that would handle nearly 900 double-stacked rail cars each month.
Savage Enterprises LLC will lease 12.5 acres sandwiched between the two sets of track that run along the northern side of Big Pasco. The area is generally used as storage by other tenants.
The pending deal gives Savage exclusive use of nearly 10,000 linear feet of railroad track.
Pasco to Puget Sound
Tenants who use the land for storage have been advised their short-term leases are being canceled.
Savage would handle up to four Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway trains per month.
BNSF will provide a direct connection between the Tri-Cities and the Northwest Seaport Alliance ports at Seattle and Tacoma.
Double-stacked trains travel down the Columbia River before turning north toward Puget Sound.
“This is a big thing for the Port of Pasco,” noted Commissioner Matt Watkins, the port’s newest elected leader.
The commission voted unanimously to authorize its executive director to complete a lease with Savage Transload Network LLC. It is expected to wrap up this week.
Savage will spend about $175,000 to rehabilitate track to suit its needs.
Inland port dreams
Local economic development officials have worked for several years to create what they call an inland port to give Tri-Cities businesses a better way to transport goods between the two sides of the state.
The Ports of Pasco, Benton and Walla Walla signed interlocal agreements with the Northwest Seaport Alliance to make it a reality in February.
The Northwest Seaport Alliance consists of the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle.
Savage, established in 1946 and owns or operates shipping facilities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. It has operations six cities in the region, including Chehalis, Wash., Salem, Ore., and Pocatello, Idaho.
Big Pasco Industrial Center is a sprawling complex of warehouses strung along railroad tracks and the Columbia River.
More train traffic
The mostly wooden Big Pasco complex was built as a military supply depot during World War II and was transferred for civilian use after the war. The port leases space and the surrounding yards and rail facilities to tenants. Lampson International’s crane yard is situated to the north.
McFadden said it will be the first time that BNSF has dispatched 110-car unit trains to Big Pasco Industrial Park. The mile-long trains could create delays for motorists who drive through the area.
“There may be days when you see crossing arms coming down that you will want to go around,” he said.
Rail hub leader
Savage recently agreed to be acquired by Cando, a Canadian rail operator that specializes in last-mile logistics and infrastructure. Together, the companies represent one of the largest operators in North America.
The port will collect rent from Savage as well as fees for each container processed at Big Pasco. Rates range from $14 for the first 220 containers and $40 when the volume exceeds 661.
Even at the low end, Savage will be Big Pasco’s largest rail user.
The operation promises to elevate domestic and international shipping in the Tri-Cities and beyond, said Stephen McFadden, the port’s deputy executive director and economic development official.
McFadden began discussing the possibility of creating an inland port with Savage in 2023, about the same time the Port of Benton floated using its 16-mile stretch of railroad to form its own inland port.
Negotiations were delayed for nearly three years due to unstable tariffs. McFadden said Savage is now confident its customers are returning to the market.
At Big Pasco, out-bound cargo containers loaded with Mid-Columbia hay and other products will be loaded onto BNSF trains and dispatched to Puget Sound, where they can be transferred to ships headed to foreign ports.
The trip is reversed for imports destined for Eastern Washington.
This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 5:01 PM with the headline "New Eastern WA rail deal to help farmers get products to Puget Sound ports."