Gateway International Rail Park to Strengthen Rail and Logistics Integration in Laredo

Gateway International Rail Park is advancing as a new industrial and logistics infrastructure project in Laredo, Texas, designed to integrate rail and truck transportation within a single complex. During his participation in a panel on trade and infrastructure, Ben Escarcega, partner at Kraus Development, explained that the project is being developed in partnership with Iron Horse Resources, a short-line railroad operator, and will connect with Union Pacific, one of the leading railroad companies in the United States.

The project's main advantage will be its ability to transfer freight between trucks and railcars in both directions. According to Escarcega, this infrastructure will provide shippers, manufacturers, and logistics providers with additional options for moving their goods. The development will also include a shared transload facility, allowing companies to test the service without having to invest in their own infrastructure within the industrial park.

The project responds to the sustained growth of international trade through Laredo. Escarcega noted that since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) took effect in 1994, the value of trade moving through the Laredo port of entry has increased from approximately $30 billion to $350 billion in 2025. This expansion has driven demand for infrastructure and logistics solutions capable of handling greater freight volumes while providing alternatives that strengthen the continuity and resilience of commercial operations.

Regarding the project timeline, Kraus Development received authorization from the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in June 2026 to construct the rail infrastructure, following an approximately 18-month federal approval process. The company expects to begin construction in late 2026 or, at the latest, during the first quarter of 2027. Construction of the main rail infrastructure is expected to take approximately 12 months. The rail backbone will extend 2.5 miles. In parallel, the company plans to develop an initial transload facility to help businesses begin using the service as the project moves forward.

“The advantage will be the first of its kind platform in Laredo, Texas, where shippers and logistics suppliers will be able to transload freight in a single industrial park. Between truck and rail, or from rail to truck, no other industrial park in Laredo today can provide that short line operated platform. It really is an evolution of the entire trade community” Escarcega Said

In the long term, Gateway International Rail Park aims to become a fully operational industrial park hosting between 40 and 60 businesses across different sectors, including aggregates, vulcan materials finished vehicles, dry freight, and refrigerated cargo. For Escarcega, the goal is to provide the market with another logistics alternative, expand transportation options, and help companies strengthen their contingency plans while Laredo continues to evolve as a strategic hub for distribution and international trade.