Watco Selected as Great Plains Industrial Park Rail Operations Provider
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
GPIP in Parsons, Kans., includes more than 6,800 acres of property and 26 miles of track.
The Great Plains Development Authority (GPDA) announced on Aug. 22 that it has selected Watco as the new rail operator of the Great Plains Industrial Park (GPIP) in Parsons, Kans., effective Jan. 1, 2023.
According to Watco, the company will provide switching, transload, warehouse, material handling, truck and logistics services, including an approved Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) for rail- and non-rail served customers within the 14,000-acre carbon-neutral industrial, transportation and economic park that is served by Union Pacific Railroad (UP, Cherokee Subdivision) and has more than 6,800 acres of property and 26 miles of track.
“We see tremendous potential for growth, expansion and economic development in the region with this long-term partnership,” said Watco CEO Dan Smith.
“The GPDA Board and GPIP staff are excited to welcome Watco to GPIP and the Kansas Proving Grounds,” said GPIP Director Brad Reams. “The opportunity to partner with a Kansas-based, international transportation and logistics service provider is invaluable. The service offerings and business development capabilities within the park are now at a world class level.”
