June 28, 2026 - TRA Newswire -

The North Texas city of Gainesville should expect a spurt in economic activity as a 126-acre industrial rail park takes shape.

A preview of the Camp Howze Rail Park was announced at the 22nd Annual Southwestern Rail Conference in May, followed this week by BNSF Railway breaking ground at the site.

The Cooke County rail facility, south of the Red River, is part of BNSF Railway’s Site Certification program.  BNSF certification ensures a site is ready for rapid acquisition and development through a comprehensive evaluation of existing and projected infrastructure, environmental and geotechnical standards, utility evaluation and site availability.

Operations are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2027.

On June 23rd, representatives from Camp Howze Development Partners, the City of Gainesville, Gainesville Economic Development Corporation, Cooke County, North Central Texas College, state leaders, and Buzzi Unicem Cement, the rail park’s first customer were on hand.

In a social media post, the railway announced "this master-planned development with a BNSF rail connection will be one of the region’s largest rail-served industrial sites. Camp Howze will help businesses locate and grow faster, driving new investment in Gainesville, Cooke County and the state of Texas. It will create high-quality jobs and help fuel regional growth.”

According to Camp Howze Development Partners the rail park will feature a 30-plus acre transload facility for rail-to-truck and truck-to-rail operations, along with a planned 200,000-square-foot freight-forwarding facility. The rail park is expected to support up to 7 million square feet of future development.

“This project represents one of BNSF’s most significant recent investments in North Texas,” said Scott Bates, Vice President of Economic Development for BNSF. “By providing modern, ready-to-serve rail infrastructure, BNSF and Camp Howze are positioned to accelerate development timelines and attract the type of rail-served industries that strengthen local economies and support long-term growth. The Camp Howze Industrial Rail Park will serve as a long-term economic engine, supporting the region for decades to come.”

“A rail-served industrial park is a valuable asset for Gainesville, as it fosters long-term economic investment, encourages business diversification, and enhances the community’s economic resilience by attracting a broader range of industries,” Gainesville City Manager Barry Sullivan added. “By expanding the industrial tax base, it will help lessen the tax burden on residents while providing additional revenue to fund essential public services and infrastructure improvements.”

According to the Class 1 railroad there is direct access to BNSF. Other benefits that can be discussed included tax credits, an opportunity zone, aggressive local, state and federal incentive programs. Contact Grant Tevis at 817-352-1925 or grant.tevis@bnsf.com.

Graphic credit: BNSF Railway