Timber Rock Railroad (TIBR), a short line operated by Watco Companies, is set to begin a $50 million capital improvement program aimed at increasing capacity and service reliability across its 50-mile network between Kirbyville, Texas, and DeRidder, Louisiana.
The investment follows TIBR’s recent inclusion in BNSF Railway’s Shortline Select Program, which was launched in late 2024 to expand market access for regional railroads by leveraging BNSF’s Class I network. TIBR interchanges with both BNSF and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, serving key freight markets in East Texas and Southwest Louisiana.
The capital program will enhance infrastructure to support the railroad’s core commodities, including aggregates, lumber products, plastics, and fuel. Operations on Timber Rock began in 1998 under Watco, a Kansas-based transportation and supply chain services company.