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Tacoma Rail recently obtained more than $750,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The short line will use proceeds to help fund track, tie and signal upgrades along the 131-mile Mountain Division line between Frederickson and Eatonville, Wash.

"This award is part of a multi-year funding strategy that will increase business opportunities and improve overall speed along the line," said Tacoma Rail Superintendent Paula Henry in a prepared statement.

Municipally owned and governed by the Tacoma Public Utility Board, Tacoma Rail has received federal funding annually since 2005 — one of a few publicly held short lines that receive federal appropriations. The 204-mile short line obtained $900,000 last year for track improvements and an appropriation in 2006 to fund a "Train to the Mountain" study.

Tacoma Rail pays 8 percent of its gross earnings to the city of Tacoma's general fund; another 1.5 percent goes to the state of Washington.