United Rail acquires U S Rail Holdings

United Rail Inc. yesterday announced it acquired U S Rail Holdings, a short-line operator in Toledo, Ohio.

U S Rail Holdings leases about 72 miles of track in the Kokomo, Indiana, area and operates it via the Winamac Southern Railway Co. The company also provides various services, including transloading, industrial rail-car switching, car repairs and storage, and track maintenance.

A short-line consolidator, United Rail owns the X Train brand and license. The X Train will provide passenger-rail service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

U S Rail Holdings' Toledo offices will become an operations hub for United Rail's acquired companies, United Rail officials said in a press release. The company already has developed a pipeline of prospective companies and expects to acquire five more railroads by year's end, they said.

"Our plan is to consolidate the smaller and sometimes overlooked short lines, and consolidate them under the United Rail Inc. banner," said United Rail Chief Executive Officer Michael Barron. "With the inclusion of U S Rail Holdings under [our] umbrella, we now have a pathway to effectively reach those small railroad companies who wish to sell."