With new business growth often comes the need to expand your production footprint. Whether you’re establishing a facility near a new market or increasing production to serve an existing one, finding an industrial site is important, but often challenging.
If your business is expanding, you’re probably asking questions like:
- What properties are available in areas desirable to our business?
- What are the transportation options for products coming into and out of the site?
- Who do we work with to establish a supply chain to serve the new location?
- Who should we talk to before selecting a site?
Answering these questions can be a simple way to start the search for an industrial site off on the right foot. The guide that follows is intended to help you do just that.
3 Options for Establishing a New Industrial Site
When you’re searching for a new industrial site, the first step is to understand your three basic options:
- Locating at an existing rail-served property
- Building in an existing industrial park with rail service
- Starting from scratch
Each of these options has its own benefits, so the right choice will depend on your needs, timeline, and budget.
1. Locating at an Existing Rail-Served Property That’s Vacant
Pros:
- Revitalizing an existing building costs less than new construction.
- Previous tenants have already made the capital investment to install track on the property.
- You’ll have instant access to cost-effective and sustainable transportation options.
- Your facility can be up and running in less time.
2. Build in an Existing Industrial Park with Rail Service
Pros:
- Industrial parks have already established the necessary utilities.
- Rail service can be accessed immediately.
- It’s likely other transportation options are also located nearby.
3. Build from Scratch
Pros:
- Union Pacific will help you develop the best layout, design, and features of your rail-served facility.
- You own the land.
- New builds tend to last longer than renovated buildings and help “future-proof” your facility.
- Regardless of which option you choose, the next step is to contact the railroad. In addition to helping you establish rail service to support your supply chain, railroad experts can help you find the perfect location for your new facility. Oftentimes railroad professionals will be in the know about real estate options you might not be aware of without their help, so it’s worth reaching out.
Regardless of which option you choose, the next step is to contact the railroad. In addition to helping you establish rail service to support your supply chain, railroad experts can help you find the perfect location for your new facility. Oftentimes railroad professionals will be in the know about real estate options you might not be aware of without their help, so it’s worth reaching out.
Tools for Finding a Rail-Served Property
If you’d like to do some looking around for yourself, Union Pacific offers free tools to browse rail-served buildings and industrial sites as well as available real estate for new builds.
- The Site Solutions Tool lets users search for rail-served buildings and industrial sites. Click around to view maps, photos and contact information for the nearly 2,100 rail-served properties and more than 4,600 rail-served buildings listed.
- Union Pacific's Focus Site program features more than 25 shovel-ready sites located on the rail network. These large-scale development areas come with pre-approved rail designs and access to roads and utilities. increases your speed to market. The railroad’s interactive Focus Site map highlights each site and a contact who can help you get started.
- Completing the AccessUP form is the best way to bring a rail expert on board to assist with your site selection and establish an effective supply chain to serve it.
Once you select a site, rail experts can provide cost and time estimates and will guide you through the entire rail process moving forward.
Learn More
To learn more about finding an industrial site for your growing business, tell us about your site and service requirements and an expert will be in touch.
To get a freight shipping quote, answer a few questions about your shipment.
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