June 2023 Commerce Club Luncheon

Join us at the Commerce Club luncheon on Thursday, June 8, 2023, with guest speaker Ricky Wells, General Manager, Port Terminal Railroad Association.

Ricky Wells has been general manager for the Port Terminal Railroad Association (“PTRA”) since June 2022. A 27-year rail industry veteran, he worked 23 years for Union Pacific and served in executive leadership roles from 2012-2020. In 2020, he became a business owner providing rail consultation services, working with leadership at Trans Global Solutions, enhancing safety and service processes for their expanding operations.

PTRA services 226 local customers from 7 serving yards, maintaining 154 miles of track and 20 bridges in the Houston Ship Channel. With the capacity to handle numerous commodity groups, PTRA currently handles chemicals, grain, plastic, coke, fuel, steel, food products, industrial products, intermodal, dimensional loads and autos.

The Port Terminal Railroad Association was formed in 1924 to provide access to the industries along the Ship Channel for railroads entering Houston. It is an independent association comprising the Port of Houston Authority, the Houston Belt & Terminal Railway, Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway and Kansas City Southern Railway. Through their rail interchange network, PTRA originates and terminates shipments from each of the continental 48 states as well as Canada and Mexico. The PTRA will celebrate its 100th year anniversary in 2024.