April 1, 2026 - TRA Newswire -
Rail operations are coming back to life at a Central Texas short line railroad that hasn't seen service since 2019.
Denver -based OmniTRAX, a short line and real estate development company, is completing infrastructure investments to resume Central Texas rail operations this month.
Service to a San Saba, Texas rock quarry marks the line’s official return to active status. Under the terms of a new service agreement with Texas Materials and BNSF, Central Texas and Colorado River Railway, LLC (CTXR), an OmniTRAX affiliate, will provide unit train transportation of aggregates from the San Saba quarry to the BNSF interchange in Lometa, Texas.
“CTXR has a long history of serving Texas and our belief in the region and the line have driven us to cultivate new partnerships and restore service,” said OmniTRAX President and COO Sergio Sabatini. “Infrastructure sparks economic development and we are excited to resume safe, efficient rail operations that bring new business in the region.”
Having last operated in 2019, extensive capital investments on the CTXR between the quarry and Lometa were needed to restore operational safety and support service growth. The initial 49-mile rail rehabilitation improvements include an expansive network of bridges and crossings, including major structures crossing the Colorado and San Saba Rivers.
The reopening of the CTXR Railroad is tremendous news for San Saba and the surrounding region,” said San Saba Mayor Ken Jordan. “Our community depends on reliable transportation infrastructure, and seeing this project progress so well gives us real confidence in the economic opportunities ahead. We are grateful for CTXR’s commitment to completing this work and look forward to the positive impact the restored rail service will bring to local businesses and residents.”
Final track testing and car movements continue to ready the line for renewed freight service to the region. The CTXR infrastructure upgrades will enhance safety, reduce interstate truck congestion, and support future growth.
“The CTXR line is a critical link in our supply chain, and its reopening will significantly strengthen our ability to serve key customers across the region,” said John Shogren, President, Texas Materials Central Region. “Reliable rail access provides greater shipping capacity and the ability to transport high volumes of critical materials more efficiently over longer distances.”
Previous story from 2016 when OmniTRAX acquired the railroad: https://www.texasrailadvocates.org/post/omni-trax-moves-to-acquire-heart-of-texas-railroad
Background on the Central Texas & Colorado River Railway can be found here.
Photo credit: OmniTRAX, San Saba River crossing