Port San Antonio, Watco companies open new railroad

SAN ANTONIO – A railroad track expansion project has been completed at Port San Antonio’s East Kelly Railport. Kan.-based Watco Cos. has expanded the railport’s tracks to almost eight miles from four miles within the 350-acre railport.

That will multiply the capacity of rail car services to 20,000 a year. Last year, rail traffic was up more than 75 percent at Port San Antonio and most of that growth is attributed to demand at Eagle Ford Shale.

The track is utilized by San Antonio Central Railroad and helps transfer rail cars from Union Pacific and BNSF railway trains to manufacturing and warehouse businesses at the port.

Between the fiscals years of 2010 and 2011, 2,594 rail cars were served. In the fiscal year 2012, which concluded Sept. 30, a new record was set with 5,167 rail cars processed.

Read more at KSAT News and San Antonio Express-News.