"Our teams are coordinating efforts to focus on an improved service product for chemicals customers by reducing transit times and tightening the variability in our delivery, significantly improving reliability for customers," said Diane Duren, vice president and general manager of Chemicals for Union Pacific.

The two railroads have reduced the transit time between major markets by 25 percent in the last three years while improving consistency by 23 percent. The improvements provide more reliable service, enabling chemicals customers to optimize their fleets of privately owned rail cars.

Over the same three-year period, the railroads have made a significant combined investment in RailChem Connect lanes for new capacity and upgrading tracks and facilities.

"In addition to the inherent safety and environmental advantages that rail offers shippers, RailChem Connect creates advantages for UP and CSXT customers that allow them to derive even more value from rail," said Dean Piacente, CSXT vice president-chemicals & fertilizer. "The increased coordination between our railroads results in improved transit and consistency, which translates into enhanced supply chain efficiency, a more balanced cycle for private rail equipment and bottom-line cost savings for our customers."