TRAVERSE CITY — Watco has officially assumed operations of the Great Lakes Central Railroad, the largest Class III regional railroad in Michigan.
According to an Oct. 1 news release, the railroad spans about 400 miles of track across Central and Northern Michigan, running north from Ann Arbor to Cadillac with branches to Thompsonville, Traverse City, and Petoskey.
It serves 15 counties and connects with several other railroads, including CSXT, Mid-Michigan Railroad, Huron and Eastern Railway, Canadian National, and Watco’s Ann Arbor Railroad, which links to Norfolk Southern.
The Great Lakes Central Railroad employs 60 people and serves more than 25 customers. It moves a range of products including soybeans, corn, fertilizers, plastics, and liquefied petroleum gas.
Watco has been an equity investor in the line since 2013 and now takes on full operational responsibility. The transition was announced on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
