BNSF offers new intermodal service schedules in Northern region

BNSF Railway Co. yesterday announced new service schedules that will go into effect Sept. 14 for domestic intermodal shipments to and from Chicago and St. Paul, Minn., to the Pacific Northwest.

The new schedules will feature "Expedited" service seven days a week for westbound traffic and six days a week for eastbound traffic, which is a day more than is currently offered in the region, according to a BNSF press release.

BNSF's two primary service options for intermodal are "Expedited," which averages about 800 miles per day, and "Standard," which averages about 600 miles per day.

The schedule changes are being implemented in response to marketplace demand and are a result of the Class I's record capital investments along its Northern Corridor, BNSF officials said.

"From 2013 through the end of this year, BNSF will have invested nearly $3.5 billion in our Northern region to maintain and improve our rail network to better serve our customers' transportation needs," said Katie Farmer, BNSF consumer products group vice president. "BNSF is now running quicker and more consistently. The added capacity and maintenance work we regularly conduct is progressing as planned and will generate significant benefits to our customers for years to come."