Levelland gas facility means expanded rail service

LEVELLAND – The opening of the North Star Gas facility, which is already in operation, will increase rail traffic into the community from three days a week to five days a week and will bring 20 to 30 new jobs.

Operations at the North Star location just west of Levelland are expected to run two shifts, five days a week, said Don Smith, North Star Gas president.

The increased traffic on the line operated by West Texas and Lubbock Railway will help the community’s local businesses and could attract new ones, according to Shawn Kirkpatrick, the economic development director for Levelland.

Pentane is being trucked to the plant from Sundown, transferred to train cars and shipped to Canada. Smith said four to five train cars per day are expected to be filled at the facility, which will receive 32 to 40 trucks. There will be no storage of chemicals on site, aside from train cars being filled for shipment.

Read more at the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.