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Tennessee

4 buyers · 5 tenders · checked 2026-10-07

WeGo Star, the TDOT short line programme and a CRISI bridge bundle are the live buyers; Memphis's trolley has been suspended since 2024.

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0Metro systems operating
4Buyers tracked
5Tenders tracked
4Cities tracked
Live pipeline
WeGo Star service-plan capital: $9.2m to $15.2m estimate (RTA; unfunded); WeGo Star FTA formula grant: $6.4m federal, mixed scope, track share not published (RTA); Short Line Railroad Preservation Grants: $85m FY2022 appropriation (TDOT; programme); Short Line Railroads Bridge Bundle: $23.7m CRISI federal grant (TDOT); TennKen mainline rehabilitation: $7.37m CRISI federal share, Tennessee and Kentucky track (TennKen)
Technology areas
Track & civil, Rolling-stock hardware, Signalling & train control

Key figures

Short line preservation appropriation$85mState appropriation in the FY2022 budget for the Short Line Railroad Preservation Grant programme, available from 1 July 2021 to railroad authorities created under state law
1 source · primary
Tennessee short line network21 short lines; 16 railroad authoritiesTDOT's FY2026 budget slides: 21 short line railroads, 16 railroad authorities, 33 counties served, 817.6 mainline track miles and 518 bridges assessed (April 2025 slides give 19 Class III railroads and 763 miles)
2 sources · all primary
  • ● TDOT — FY2026 House budget hearing presentation · TDOT slides: 21 short lines, 16 railroad authorities, 817.6 mainline track miles and 518 bridges assessed, passenger rail options and the Corridor ID study award (published 2025 · checked 2026-10-07)
  • ● TDOT — Freight Advisory Committee presentation, April 2025 · TDOT slides: the Passenger Transportation, Rail, and Freight Division, freight planning activities (state rail plan, rail preservation grants, State Safety Oversight), rail in Tennessee (six Class I, 19 Class III railroads, 763 miles, Amtrak and WeGo Star) (published 2025-04 · checked 2026-10-07)
CRISI short line bridge bundle$23.7mFRA CRISI federal grant to TDOT for 42 short line rail bridges on 10 short lines in 12 counties, announced 28 September 2023 (TDOT release and FRA remarks, archived copies)
3 sources · 2 primary
Donelson Station funding secured$26.7mLocal, state and federal funding secured for the Donelson Station public infrastructure on the WeGo Star line, per RTA item R-A-26-021 (30 September 2026)
1 source · primary
WeGo Star plan capital estimate$9.2m to $15.2mConsultant estimate of one-time capital for the WeGo Star service plan approved by RTA in October 2024: a siding, yard track, an extra trainset and maintenance-of-way work; funding not yet identified
1 source · primary
Corridor ID study award$0.5mFRA Corridor ID development award to the City of Chattanooga (15 March 2024 to 31 October 2026) for Atlanta–Chattanooga–Nashville–Memphis service on existing alignments
2 sources · all primary

Buyers

BuyerTypeTendersContracts awarded
Regional Transportation Authority of Middle TennesseeTransit authority20
Tennessee Department of Transportation — Passenger Transportation, Rail, and Freight DivisionState DOT20
TennKen Railroad Co., Inc.Freight railroad10
Memphis Area Transit AuthorityTransit authority00

Tenders

TenderBuyerStatusValue bandNext key date
Short Line Railroads Bridge BundleTDOT RailAwarded$5–25m
Short Line Railroad Preservation GrantsTDOT RailIn execution$25–100m
TennKen mainline track rehabilitationTennKenIn execution$5–25m
FTA formula grant to RTA, WeGo StarRTA / WeGo StarIn executionNot published (track share of a mixed grant)
WeGo Star service-plan capital worksRTA / WeGo StarPlanned$9.2m to $15.2m (consultant estimate; one-time capital)

Cities

CityNetwork statusNetworks
Nashvilleoperational — WeGo Star commuter trains run on 32 miles of leased freight track between Lebanon and Riverfront Station, seven stations, three peak inbound and three peak outbound trains each weekday; service is held to 12 passenger trains a day by an FRA mainline track exception, so there is no positive train control. Donelson Station is being rebuilt as a transit centre. There is no light rail or metro.WeGo Star (commuter rail)
Memphissuspended — MATA's vintage trolley rail system has been halted since 18 August 2024 and the Main Street Trolley runs as a bus service; MATA has tendered system integration testing of the six cars ahead of reactivating the Main Street Line, proposals due 9 October 2026. Amtrak's City of New Orleans calls at Memphis Central Station. Memphis is a Class I interchange hub with intermodal yards of BNSF, CN, CSX and Norfolk Southern.MATA trolley (suspended)
Dyersburgfreight only — TennKen Railroad interchanges with Canadian National at Dyersburg and is rehabilitating its mainline under a CRISI award.
Chattanoogaheritage and planning only — CARTA runs the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, a funicular. The city is sponsor of the FRA Corridor ID study for Atlanta–Chattanooga–Nashville–Memphis service and holds a crossing-elimination grant for Hamill Road.

Withheld in the free surface

  • Capex in this region (3)
  • Market narrative

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  • Note

Full detail withheld: 1 field. In the United States edition · See a fully open example

Sources

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Compiled by Watchtower to editorial standards the Managing Partner sets and enforces. Public record only — every datum carries its source.