“The Watco team is excited to serve customers in Ohio and West Virginia,” said Watco CCO Ed McKechnie. “Our team is prepared to offer our new customers in the agriculture, energy and chemical industries the transportation service product they need to move their product to their end customer.”
“Our growth in Ohio and West Virginia will provide us the opportunity to serve new customers and build lasting relationships with local communities along the lines,” said Rob Thrall, vice president of business development for Watco Cos.
KNWA will soon begin the hiring process to ensure uninterrupted service to rail customers on the line and to restore service on portions of the main line not currently being operated. “The team we will assemble to operate the KNWA will make sure that our customers’ transportation needs will continue to be met every day,” said Thrall. “Following Watco’s Customer First Foundation Principles, we will strive to value our customers, value our people and safely improve every day.”
The KNWA will become the 36th short line railroad operated by WTS. The WTS network covers 4,500 miles of track and ships more than half a million carloads annually. WTS short lines transport a variety of commodities such as agricultural and food products, lumber and forest products, paper and paper goods, infrastructure metals and minerals, chemicals, plastics, and energy products. WTS serves more than 1,000 customers on its lines and strives to create value for them every day.
