Port 10 Watco Rail Logistics to build SIT yard near Houston port

Port 10 Watco Rail Logistics yesterday announced plans to build a 400-car storage-in-transit (SIT) yard to alleviate rail-car congestion and accelerate supply-chain movement in the Port of Houston region.

Port 10, which is a joint venture of Watco, Pontikes Development and McNair Interests, will provide off-site railroad infrastructure to enable industrial customers to store empty and loaded rail cars outside of the industrial footprint. The offsite option is a cost-effective and efficient way of maximizing production capabilities, Watco officials said in a press release.

The new yard will be located adjacent to Interstate 10 and provide access to Union Pacific Railroad and its Coady Yard. The plans call for 400 rail-car spots and 3 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space. Construction is expected to begin next month and conclude by the end of first-quarter 2023.

"We expect the new yard — an extension of the Port 10 Logistics Center industrial park development — will add convenience, flexibility and operational efficiencies to our customers in the Baytown area," said Marc Massoglia, Watco’s senior vice president of sales for terminal and port services.