BNSF Railway and CSX launched several faster intermodal schedules for coast-to-coast transport connectivity, according to a Nov. 14 press release.
As of Nov. 17, BNSF now operates five-day-a-week intermodal schedules from Los Angeles to many CSX destinations, as well as new service lanes:
| Origin | Destination | Transit | Transit Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Northwest Ohio | 89 hours | New Expedited Service |
| Los Angeles | Chambersburg, Pennsylvania | 123 hours | 28 hours |
| Los Angeles | Columbus, Ohio | 115 hours | 28 hours |
| Los Angeles | Louisville, Kentucky | 109 hours | New Service |
| Los Angeles | Northwest Ohio ICTF | 105 hours | 22 hours |
| Los Angeles | Philadelphia | 158 hours | New Service |
| Los Angeles | South Kearny, New Jersey | 126 hours | 32 hours |
| Los Angeles | Springfield, Massachusetts | 136 hours | 52 hours |
| Los Angeles | Syracuse, New York | 140 hours | 26 hours |
SOURCE: BNSF Railway
The new schedules aim to boost speed, flexibility and optionality for shippers moving freight across the U.S., per the press release.
The new schedules went live as the rail industry undergoes significant changes. While some railroads have opted to merge over the last few years, including the recent proposal to combine Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern networks, others have been teaming up to streamline rail services.
Earlier this year, for instance, BNSF and Norfolk Southern redesigned an intermodal service between the Northwest Seaport Alliance and Chicago, boosting shipping speeds by three days. In June, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, BNSF and Mexico-based rail provider GMXT launched a cross-border rail intermodal freight delivery service between the U.S. and Mexico.
More recently in September, CSX and CN announced plans to start an intermodal service connecting Canada’s West Coast gateways through Memphis, Tennessee, and directly into Nashville, Tennessee. The service aims to serve as a rail alternative for cargo that typically moves by trucking and steel-wheel interchange, potentially reducing highway truck traffic.
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