Texas Pacifico Transportation

Texas Pacifico Transportation Ltd., reporting mark TXPF, is a short-line freight railroad company operating in West Texas. Its principal asset is the South Orient Rail Line, a state-owned route extending from San Angelo Junction near Coleman, Texas, southwest through San Angelo and Alpine to Presidio on the Mexican border. The company operates the line under a lease and operating agreement involving the Texas Department of Transportation and the State of Texas, while Grupo México is its principal corporate owner. The railroad serves as a regional freight connector rather than a nationwide network. At San Angelo Junction, Texas Pacifico interchanges with BNSF Railway and the Fort Worth and Western Railroad. It also connects with Union Pacific Railroad at Alpine. The Presidio end of the route is intended to provide an international rail gateway to Ojinaga, Chihuahua, where the line can connect with Ferromex. That cross-border connection has not functioned since a fire damaged the Presidio–Ojinaga International Rail Bridge on February 29, 2008. Restoration of international interchange has additionally required a U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection facility on the American side. The South Orient route has a long and complicated institutional history. The original railroad was built in 1897 by the Colorado Valley Railway as part of a proposed connection between the Colorado River at Colorado City and San Angelo. Its northern terminus was later shifted to Sweetwater. In 1909, the route became part of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway in Texas, whose system was intended to connect the Red River region with the Rio Grande. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway acquired the line in 1928. A major change occurred in 1992, when the Santa Fe transferred the right-of-way and fixed assets to the South Orient Rural Rail Transportation District, an instrumentality of the State of Texas. The South Orient Railroad Company leased the line and salvage rights, but in 1998 it notified the Surface Transportation Board of an intention to abandon the route. The state retained ownership, and service was discontinued. In 2001, the Texas Department of Transportation and Grupo México jointly acquired the line and formed Texas Pacifico Transportation. Operations began in 2004 after rehabilitation of the section from San Angelo Junction through San Angelo to Alpine. Further rehabilitation focused on the remaining 72 miles to Presidio. A $7 million federal FASTLANE grant supported this work, strengthening the route's potential as a West Texas freight corridor and international gateway. The damaged bridge remains the principal obstacle to restored rail interchange with Mexico. In March 2024, the Texas Transportation Commission was reported to have approved letting a $33 million project for the required inspection facility. A later presentation at the June 2026 Texas Rail Advocates conference indicated that construction of an X-ray inspection facility was well underway, alongside an associated Customs and Border Protection facility approximately two rail miles north of the bridge. Texas Pacifico's strategic value lies in connecting local and regional shippers with the Class I railroad network and, potentially, Mexican rail markets. Its identity is therefore based on infrastructure operation, short-line freight service, interchange coordination, and cross-border logistics rather than consumer-facing products. Publicly available reference material does not identify a current chief executive, detailed commodity portfolio, standalone website, or separately reported financial results.

The South Orient Rail Line, now operated by Texas Pacifico Transportation, originated in the late nineteenth century. The Colorado Valley Railway built the first portion in 1897 as part of an intended route linking the Colorado River at Colorado City with San Angelo. The line's northern endpoint was subsequently changed to Sweetwater. In 1909, it became part of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway in Texas, a larger project intended to establish a route from the Red River to the Rio Grande. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway purchased the route in 1928. Its ownership ended in 1992, when the railroad transferred the right-of-way and fixed assets to the South Orient Rural Rail Transportation District, a state-created instrumentality of Texas. The South Orient Railroad Company leased the line and salvage rights. In 1998, that operator notified the Surface Transportation Board that it intended to abandon the railroad. The State of Texas retained ownership, but South Orient service was discontinued. In 2001, the Texas Department of Transportation and Grupo México jointly purchased the line and established Texas Pacifico Transportation. The company began operating in 2004. Initial rehabilitation restored the route from San Angelo Junction through San Angelo to Alpine. The remaining 72 miles to Presidio subsequently became the focus of a federally supported rehabilitation program, including a $7 million FASTLANE grant. Texas Pacifico's route is strategically important because it connects with several major railroads. It interchanges with BNSF Railway and Fort Worth and Western Railroad at San Angelo Junction and with Union Pacific Railroad at Alpine. At Presidio, the railroad historically connected through the Presidio–Ojinaga International Rail Bridge with Ferromex in Mexico. That interchange was suspended after the bridge was damaged by fire on February 29, 2008. Repairing the physical crossing alone has not been sufficient to restore international service. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection facility is also required. In March 2024, the Texas Transportation Commission was reported to have approved letting a $33 million project for that facility. A June 2026 presentation to Texas Rail Advocates described construction of an X-ray inspection facility as well underway, with a related Customs and Border Protection facility being built roughly two rail miles north of the bridge. Texas Pacifico is consequently best understood as a regional infrastructure and freight-rail operator whose importance extends beyond its current local service. Its operating corridor links West Texas communities with the national Class I railroad system and retains the potential to become a cross-border freight route between the United States and Mexico. Public reference material does not provide a complete list of commodities, customers, executives, financial results, or a standalone corporate website.

• 2026

  Border inspection construction reported underway

  [1]Texas Pacifico Transportationen.wikipedia.org

  A Texas Rail Advocates presentation reported progress on an X-ray inspection facility and a related Customs and Border Protection facility.

• 2024

  Inspection-facility project advances

  [1]Texas Pacifico Transportationen.wikipedia.org

  The Texas Transportation Commission was reported to have approved letting a $33 million project for a required Presidio inspection facility.

• 2008

  Bridge fire suspends Mexican interchange

  [1]Texas Pacifico Transportationen.wikipedia.org

  Fire damage to the Presidio–Ojinaga International Rail Bridge halted interchange traffic with Ferromex.

• 2004

  Operations begin

  [1]Texas Pacifico Transportationen.wikipedia.org

  Texas Pacifico began operating the rehabilitated route, initially between San Angelo Junction and Alpine.

• 2001

  Texas and Grupo México establish Texas Pacifico Transportation

  [1]Texas Pacifico Transportationen.wikipedia.org

  The Texas Department of Transportation and Grupo México jointly purchased the line and formed Texas Pacifico Transportation.

• 1998

  South Orient announces intended abandonment

  [1]Texas Pacifico Transportationen.wikipedia.org

  The South Orient Railroad Company notified the Surface Transportation Board of its intent to abandon the line, after which service was discontinued.

• 1992

  State rail district receives the infrastructure

  [1]Texas Pacifico Transportationen.wikipedia.org

  The Santa Fe transferred the right-of-way and fixed assets to the South Orient Rural Rail Transportation District, while the South Orient Railroad Company leased the line.

• 1928

  Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe acquires the line

  [1]Texas Pacifico Transportationen.wikipedia.org

  The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway purchased the railroad.

• 1909

  Line becomes part of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway in Texas

  [1]Texas Pacifico Transportationen.wikipedia.org

  The route was incorporated into the Texas portion of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway system.

• 1897

  Colorado Valley Railway builds the original route

  [1]Texas Pacifico Transportationen.wikipedia.org

  The Colorado Valley Railway constructed the initial railroad as part of a proposed connection between Colorado City and San Angelo.

A privately operated, state-linked short-line railroad positioned as a West Texas regional freight connector and a potential United States–Mexico rail gateway.

• Freight railroad operation · 2004

  South Orient Rail Line freight service

  Texas Pacifico operates the South Orient Rail Line from San Angelo Junction near Coleman through San Angelo and Alpine to Presidio. The Class III railroad provides regional freight transportation and connects customers and interchange traffic with larger rail networks operated by BNSF Railway, Fort Worth and Western Railroad, and Union Pacific Railroad.

• Cross-border rail gateway

  Presidio–Ojinaga international rail connection

  The Presidio endpoint connects, through the international rail bridge to Ojinaga, with Ferromex in Mexico. Interchange traffic was suspended after the bridge fire in 2008 and remains dependent on bridge-related work and the installation of U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection infrastructure.

• 2024

  Advance Presidio border-inspection infrastructureStrategy

  Background

  International rail interchange requires U.S. customs inspection capacity before traffic can return to the bridge.

  Action taken

  The Texas Transportation Commission was reported to have approved letting a $33 million inspection-facility project.

  Aftermath

  Later reporting presented to Texas Rail Advocates indicated that construction of inspection facilities was progressing.

  Project cost. $33 million (2024)

  Source

• 2008

  Suspend international interchange after bridge fireOther

  Background

  The Presidio–Ojinaga International Rail Bridge was damaged by fire on February 29, 2008.

  Action taken

  Interchange traffic with Ferromex at Presidio was suspended.

  Aftermath

  Resumption of service has awaited bridge-related restoration and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection facility.

  Source

• 2001

  Create a state-linked short-line operatorStrategy

  Background

  After the South Orient Railroad Company pursued abandonment and service ended, Texas and Grupo México acquired the line and sought to preserve and rehabilitate it.

  Action taken

  The Texas Department of Transportation and Grupo México jointly purchased the railroad and formed Texas Pacifico Transportation.

  Aftermath

  The new company began operations in 2004 and restored service on the route between San Angelo Junction and Alpine before further work toward Presidio.

  Source

1. 1Texas Pacifico Transportationen.wikipedia.org