BNSF, KCS join forces on new intermodal service

Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
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As of June 30, PTC technology remains to be activated on approximately 700 required route miles.
Business Wire

BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) have announced a new joint service, offering intermodal transportation connections at more locations in the U.S. and Mexico.  

 

The new services aim to better connect the Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago markets with other major markets in BNSF’s network with important consumer and industrial regions on the Kansas City Southern de México network.

The new services will begin Dec. 1 and are set to provide intermodal transportation five days a week, officials say.

“We are excited to be partnering with KCS to offer our customers a new, efficient and reliable way to access some of Mexico’s largest metropolitan markets,” said Katie Farmer, group vice president, BNSF Consumer Products. “At BNSF, we are focused on providing our customers with options that can strengthen their value proposition in the marketplace. These new services leverage our strong intermodal product and KCS’ expertise south of the border to enhance customers’ supply chain efficiency into and out of Mexico.” 

Northbound, the service will operate from Toluca, San Luis Potosí or Monterrey, Mexico, to Dallas/Fort Worth or Chicago. Southbound, the service will originate from Chicago or Dallas/Fort Worth to Laredo, Texas, or to Monterrey, San Luis Potosí or Toluca, Mexico.

Customers using this service can also connect to the West Coast to and from Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Stockton, Calif., and Seattle and Portland, Ore. Passengers will have the option to connect to other regions within BNSF’s 32,500-mile network from Dallas/Fort Worth or Chicago, as well as other railroads, to reach the Canadian and northeastern markets.

The new service aims to provide customers moving consumer goods a secure, direct connection to important consumer and manufacturing regions in Mexico, representatives say. Trains moving in both directions carrying 53-foot intermodal containers will interchange at Robstown, Texas. 

“The Kansas City Southern Railway Company in the U.S. and Kansas City Southern de México are proud to partner with BNSF to expand the portfolio of services we offer in our cross-border product, enabling our shippers to compete more effectively in the market and provide enhanced supply chain logistics to the customer,” said Erik Hansen, KCS vice president intermodal. 

Representatives say the service will provide “truck-like” intermodal transit times and will offer an extensive safety and security process that entails monitoring shipments throughout the route using strategic rail inspection portals. Customers will have access to tools at all times to track shipments in both countries. 

Intermodal rail shipments using this service will not be required to stop at the border for customs clearance, unlike the process mandated for truck shipments. Rather, shipments travel in-bond, clearing customs at Mexico origins and destinations, representatives say.

More information about these new services is available here

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