Utah’s first new railroad in a century opens in Tooele County

Officials gather for the opening of the new Savage Tooele Railroad, the first new railroad in Utah in over 100 years. Pictured are (left to right) Jeff Roberts, Savage president and CEO; John Savage, vice chairman of the Savage board of directors; Charles Akerlow with Interstate Business Park; Mike Miller, Savage senior vice president and rail services leader; Phillip Hoskins, Savage vice president of business development; Josh Romney with The Romney Group; Jefferson Moss of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity; Abby Osborne of the Utah Inland Port Authority; Nathan Anderson of Union Pacific Railroad; and State Rep. Nicholeen Peck. (Photo courtesy of Savage)

It’s been more than 100 years since a new railroad was commissioned in Utah. But that changed earlier this month with a ceremony marking the opening of the Savage Tooele Railroad, an 11-mile, short-line route connecting the Lakeview Business Park in Grantsville to the Union Pacific mainline near I-80 at the south end of the Great Salt Lake.

The line provides tenants at Lakeview Business Park with enhanced access to efficient rail transportation, “offering a significant and sustainable alternative to trucking logistics in the area,” global logistics company Savage said in a release.

The railroad was approved by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board in 2024, with construction starting in November last year. The railroad will operate five days a week with a 286,000-pound gross rail load capacity, giving the industrial park’s tenants access to markets across North America. The railroad was developed by Savage in conjunction with Union Pacific Railroad. It was scheduled to begin handling its first shipments by the end of September.

“This new railroad is a major step forward for Utah’s economy,” said Gov. Spencer Cox. “The Savage Tooele Railroad will open doors for Utah businesses, strengthen our supply chains and create opportunities that will benefit our state for generations.”

“We know this is a much-needed link for the supply chain in northern Utah,” said Jeff Roberts, president and CEO of Savage. “Now that the Savage Tooele Railroad is operational, we’re excited to see it add value for our customers and support businesses in the area.”

Lakeview Business Park is a 1,700-acre, master-planned site at the eastern end of Grantsville developed by The Romney Group and Prologis.

“Integrating rail service into Lakeview Business Park creates a logistical competitive advantage,” said Gus Gradinger, vice president of customer-led development at Prologis. “This new connection expands options, reduces transportation costs and enables faster distribution — making the park an even more attractive place to do business.”

“Lakeview has always been about building long-term value for users and the surrounding community,” said Josh Romney, president of The Romney Group. “The Savage Tooele Railroad expands what’s possible here and reinforces our commitment to forward-looking development.”

“This is a win-win as we work together to meet growing demand in Salt Lake City,” said Kenny Rocker, executive vice president of marketing and sales for Union Pacific Railroad. “Short-line partnerships like this one with Savage Tooele Railroad allow us to deliver innovative rail solutions that help our customers connect to our premier network and get to market faster.”

Established in 1946, Savage is privately held and provides supply chain infrastructure and solutions with more than 4,000 team members in about 200 locations across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.