Watco short line to lease NS rail lines in Ohio, West Virginia

The Kanawha River Railroad (KNWA) has reached a definitive agreement with Norfolk Southern Corp. to lease and increase operations on 309 miles of rail line in Ohio and West Virginia.

KNWA plans to seek the U.S. Surface Transportation Board's approval of the transaction and expects to begin operations in July, according to a press release issued by KNWA's parent, Watco Transportation Services LLC.

The lines run from Refugee, Ohio, to Alloy, W.Va., and Cornelia, W.Va, to Mullens, W.Va.

"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," said Watco Chief Commercial Officer Ed McKechnie.

KNWA plans to return daily operations to the entire main line between West Virginia and the Columbus, Ohio, area. NS suspended operations on part of the line in Ohio early this year because of declining traffic. The Class I rerouted traffic on other routes.

KNWA becomes the 36th short line operated by Watco, company officials said.