ODOT, Watco sign off on Sooner Sub rail line sale to Stillwater Central Railroad

Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Watco Companies L.L.C. officials have completed a $75 million sale of the Sooner Sub rail line between Midwest City and Sapulpa to Stillwater Central Railroad L.L.C., ODOT announced yesterday.

Stillwater Central Railroad, which operates more than 275 miles of track in Oklahoma, plans to introduce passenger-rail service connecting the Midwest City and Sapulpa. The Sooner Sub rail line covers nearly 100 miles of track.

Watco Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Ed McKechnie said the company is working with Iowa Pacific Holdings to begin a trial run for passenger-rail service in the first half of 2015, The Shawnee News-Star reported on its website.

Watco is the parent company of Stillwater Central Railroad.