Pueblo area economy could get boost from two recent rail industry developments

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- An existing rail technology firm is transitioning out of its longtime facility in the area and expanding to three new locations, while the existing facility will be taken over by another rail and surface transportation company.

Jeff Shaw, president and CEO of the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation, confirmed Thursday that MxV Rail -- formerly the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. -- is moving from its facility in northeastern Pueblo County to two locations at the Pueblo Airport and a location at the PuebloPlex industrial park on the property of the Pueblo Chemical Depot.

Meanwhile, ENSCO -- founded in 1969 in Washington, D.C. -- is in the process of moving into the federally-owned TTC facility, after receiving a government contract; the company specializes in aerospace, national security, cybersecurity and surface transportation.

MxV's history is in railroad research and testing, specifically in high-speed rail technology; the TTC has been a site for high-speed rail tests since the 1970s, and Shaw said that MXv's expansion solidifies the city's status as a major player in the industry.

Shaw said that MxV broke ground last week on a new test track at the PuebloPlex.

MxV has nearly 200 employees in the Pueblo area but could hire more during its expansion, he said; the number of ENSCO employees coming to Pueblo is unclear.

Shaw also said that both developments could lead to economic growth by attracting other companies that could supply materials and equipment to MxV and ENSCO.

"This is great news for Pueblo," Shaw said.

The changes give Pueblo what are likely the top two high-speed rail technology companies in the world, and they could influence how Congress spends more than $100 million allocated to improve rail networks.

However, some industry experts believe that the developments in Pueblo are separate from the overall discussion of building high-speed rail systems.