(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on August 21, 2009.)
Patriot Rail Corp. has launched its sixth short line. The holding company recently obtained a long-term license agreement from the city of Temple, Texas, to provide switching and other rail-related services at Central Pointe Rail Park and formed subsidiary Temple & Central Texas Railway (TC) to serve as the service provider.
The 3,500-acre Central Pointe Rail Park is located in central Texas between Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. The park includes about 10 miles of rail serving four customers. TC, which will interchange with BNSF Railway Co., expects to move more than 6,000 carloads in its first year.
Through preliminary marketing efforts, Patriot Rail already identified more than 20 potential new rail customers that could help drive business to the park in the near future.
“This region of Texas is poised for tremendous growth as new industry and commerce relocate to Temple over the next several years,” said Patriot Rail Senior Vice President of Operations Stan Wlotko in a prepared statement.
Patriot Rail also owns and operates the Tennessee Southern Railroad; Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway; Utah Central Railway; Sacramento Valley Railroad; and Louisiana North West Railroad.