BNSF Railway debuted a new expedited service from Los Angeles to Houston for shippers seeking faster freight transport, according to a July 15 press release.
The expedited service, which will transport a variety of goods, is 24 hours faster than the railroad company’s standard product and 48 hours faster than the previous service offering, a BNSF spokesperson told Supply Chain Dive.
“We see potential in the market to convert highway freight traffic to rail, and this new offering provides another competitive edge for shippers to optimize their supply chains more efficiently and more sustainably,” the spokesperson said in an email.
Currently operational as of July 10, the route spans from BNSF’s Hobart intermodal facility in Los Angeles to its Pearland facility in Houston. It also provides an option for shippers draying freight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Houston, per the release.
The service resulted from collaboration between the railway operator and its expedited shippers, the spokesperson said.
The new service also capitalizes on investments BNSF is making to extend capacity over time.
Earlier this year, the railway operator announced a $3.8 billion capital investment plan for 2025, which included expansion initiatives in Southern California and for its Southern Transcon route. The growth efforts, including the new expedited service, are meant to connect the two metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and Houston, the spokesperson said.
