BNSF, KCS partner on new intermodal service

BNSF Railway Co. and Kansas City Southern yesterday announced a new joint intermodal service five days a week starting Dec. 1.

The service will connect the Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth markets and other major markets on the BNSF network with consumer and industrial regions on the Kansas City Southern de Mexico network, according to a joint press release from BNSF and KCS.

The new service will offer customers moving consumer goods a secure and direct connection to some of the most important consumer and manufacturing regions in Mexico, BNSF and KCS officials said.

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

Customers of the service may also connect to the West Coast to and from Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Stockton, Calif., and Seattle and Portland, Ore. In addition, customers may connect to other regions along BNSF's 32,500-mile network from Dallas/Fort Worth or Chicago as well as other railroads to reach northeastern and Canadian markets.

"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," said Katie Farmer, group vice president, BNSF Consumer Products.

Trains moving north or south will interchange at Robstown, Texas. The service offers "truck-like" intermodal transit times when compared with over-the-road options. A safety and security process will include monitoring shipments throughout the route using strategic rail inspection portals, the railroads said.