Montana Rail Link

Montana Rail Link

A Montana Rail Link train in April 2005
Overview
Headquarters	Missoula, Montana
Reporting mark	MRL
Locale	Idaho, Montana, Washington
Dates of operation	October 31, 1987–January 1, 2024 (as an independent railroad)
Successor	BNSF Railway
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length	937 miles
Other
Website	www.montanarail.com

v t e Montana Rail Link
Legend
BNSF to Seattle BNSF to Portland BNSF to Kettle Falls Spokane Yardley Washington Idaho Hauser Coeur d'Alene Sandpoint BNSF to Bonners Ferry Joint trackage with BNSF to Spokane Kootenai Hope Clark Fork Idaho Montana Noxon Trout Creek Thompson Falls Woodlin Plains Polson Pablo St Regis Paradise Ronan Superior Perma Charlo Frenchtown Dixon Schilling Ravalli Arlee DeSmet Missoula Lolo Bonner Florence Clinton Stevensville Bearmouth Victor Drummond Hall Corvallis Gold Creek Maxville Hamilton Phosphate Philipsburg Darby Garrison BNSF to Butte Avon Elliston Blossburg Mullan Pass Mullan Tunnel 3,426-foot (1,044 m) BNSF to Great Falls Helena East Helena Montana City Spire Rock Louisville Winston Twin Bridges Townsend Whitehall Sheridan Toston Sappington Alder Clarkston Harrison Trident Three Forks Logan Manhattan Belgrade Bozeman Bozeman Pass Bozeman Tunnel 3,015-foot (919 m) Wilsall Livingston Clyde Park Mission Big Timber Greycliff Reed Point Columbus BNSF to Denver Laurel Mossmain BNSF to Great Falls Billings East Billings Huntley BNSF to Kansas City Jones Junction BNSF to Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Key
Montana Rail Link Former trackage BNSF Railway

Montana Rail Link (reporting mark MRL) (now operated by BNSF as the MRL Subdivision) was a privately held Class II railroad in the United States. It operated on trackage originally built by the Northern Pacific Railway and leased from its successor BNSF Railway. MRL was a unit of The Washington Companies and was headquartered in Missoula, Montana.

The railroad ran between Huntley, Montana and Spokane, Washington, largely within Montana, and the main line passes through the towns of Missoula, Livingston, Bozeman, Billings, and Helena. Montana Rail Link connected with the BNSF on both ends and also in Garrison, Montana. The railroad had over 900 miles (1,400 km) of track,^[1] served 100 stations, and employed approximately 1,000 personnel. The main classification yard was in Laurel, Montana, with smaller yards in Missoula, Billings, Bozeman and Helena.^[2] Repair and mechanical facilities were in Livingston, Montana; turntables remain in Livingston and Laurel.

In January 2022, MRL and BNSF agreed on an early lease termination to return control of the line to BNSF. This took place on January 1, 2024; MRL became a subdivision of BNSF, and all employees of MRL were offered employment with BNSF.