On Monday, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Corporation announced a new domestic intermodal service to deliver more market reach and efficient transportation options.
The service will use Union Pacific’s network to connect customers with western and southern markets to Norfolk Southern’s modernized intermodal facilities in the Louisville area. The bi-directional service will originate and terminate in Louisville interchanging between Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific in Kansas City before traveling to Los Angeles and Lathrop, Calif.; Seattle, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City, Utah, and Houston, Texas.
Company officials said the new service was another example of the two railroads partnering to develop innovative service products to support the American economy’s growth. Other products from the two rail lines include service from Los Angeles to Charlotte, N.C.; and Jacksonville, Fla. The companies said strategic investments from Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern will make the new service possible.
“Our customers want easier, more reliable freight solutions that they can depend on, and our robust service delivers that,” Kenny Rocker, Executive Vice President – Marketing and Sales at Union Pacific, said. “Enhancements to the newly expanded Kansas City Intermodal Terminal and Norfolk Southern investments in Louisville allow us to compete with trucks, removing thousands from the nation’s congested highways.”
Union Pacific’s new Kansas City Intermodal Terminal will provide a critical interchange point connecting domestic and international shipments of grain, consumer goods, refrigerated products and auto parts to the Midwest and other major US markets, while Norfolk Southern said it is strengthening its long-standing presence in Louisville by modifying its terminal footprint to expand access and enable service to the growing domestic market.
“Our enhancements in the Louisville market reflect how intently we listen to our customers and translate their feedback into thoughtful planning and strategic infrastructure investments,” Ed Elkins, Chief Commercial Officer at Norfolk Southern, said. “This is a growth area for our customers, so we are stepping up with service to help them reach untapped markets with a more reliable, sustainable alternative to trucking.”