Pittsburg, Kans.-based Watco Railroad Company Holdings, Inc. (Watco) on March 6 reported plans to add Great Lakes Central Railroad (GLC) to its short line portfolio pending approval by the Surface Transportation Board. It has been an equity investor in the GLC since 2013 and now seeks ownership.
The Class III would join Watco’s Grand Elk and Ann Arbor railroads in Michigan. Stretching approximately 400 miles from Ann Arbor (north) to Cadillac (central), Mich., with branches to Thompsonville, Traverse City, and Petoskey, GLC is the largest short line in the state and serves 15 counties. It ships a range of commodities including soybeans, corn, and other agricultural products, fertilizers, plastics, and LPG, and interchanges with CSX, Genesee & Wyoming’s Mid-Michigan Railroad and Huron & Eastern Railway, CN, and Ann Arbor Railroad, which links with Norfolk Southern.
“We are committed to honoring the history of the GLC and building upon our strong partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and our valued customers,” said Dan Smith, CEO of Watco, which with the acquisition would run a total of 47 small railroads in the U.S. in addition to one each in Canada and Australia. “This acquisition allows us to further support and grow our Michigan customer base, and we look forward to continuing the legacy of excellence that the Ferris family has established.”
“The Great Lakes Central Railroad has been a vital part of Michigan’s transportation network and both my father, Louis P. Ferris Jr., and I have been deeply passionate about its role in connecting industries and communities,” noted Jennifer Ferris, President and CEO of GLR. “Thanks to our tremendous team, GLC has experienced remarkable growth over the years, strengthening our service and expanding our capabilities. With Watco as a long-time partner since 2013, we are confident they will honor the legacy we have built while continuing to serve Michigan’s industries and communities with the same dedication and excellence.”
“Watco has a long history of working with the MDOT through its two other short line railroads in Michigan,” MDOT Office of Rail Director Peter Anastor commented. “We look forward to growing our strong partnership with Watco in preserving and enhancing critical rail service in Michigan, while providing excellent service to customers along the state-owned rail corridor between Ann Arbor and Northern Michigan.”
This story originally appeared on Railway Age.
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