Watco leases five branch lines from Kansas City Southern

Watco leases five branch lines from Kansas City Southern The Kansas City Southern Railway Co. (KCSR) said Wednesday it has leased out branch lines in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Alabama to three railroads owned by Watco Cos. Inc.
   The leased lines include:
   * The KCSR Waldron Branch from east of Heavener, Okla. to Waldron, Ark.
   * The Nashville Branch from Ashdown to Nashville, Ark.
   * The Hodge Subdivision from Gibsland to north of Pineville Junction, La.
   * The Minden Branch, which includes the Hope Subdivision from Springhill to east of Hinkle, La. and the Sibley Branch from Minden to Sibley, La.
   * The Tuscaloosa Branch, which includes the Tuscaloosa Subdivision east of Columbus, Miss. to Tuscaloosa, Ala., the Warrior Branch between Tuscaloosa and Fox, Ala., and the Brookwood Branch from Brookwood Junction to Brookwood, Ala.
   Under terms of the lease agreement, the branch lines will continue to receive rail services from Watco subsidiaries Arkansas Southern, the Louisiana Southern and the Alabama Southern.
   “With the execution of these leases, KCSR will free up resources to focus its energies on our core lines for the movement of NAFTA traffic,” said Art Shoener, KCSR president and chief executive officer.
   “We are committed to continue delivering quality rail service to our new customers, KCSR and the communities served by our three new railroads,” said Terry Towner, Watco president and chief operating officer.
   The two companies expect the transition of the rail operations to begin in September on the two Louisiana lines, with the Arkansas and Alabama properties to follow in October and early November.