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The Class Is' alliance-building approach continues two months after Surface Transportation Board's merger moratorium expired.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Norfolk Southern Railway, Aug. 16 announced a seamless, coast-to-coast intermodal trailer service for time-sensitive premium shipments between southern California, and Rutherford, Pa., and Croxton, N.J.

The Class Is Aug. 14 began westbound service, which runs Tuesday through Sunday; eastbound service, running Thursday through Saturday, begins Aug. 16.

BNSF provides line-haul service between southern California and Chicago; NS, between Chicago and the East Coast.

"This new premium service reduces transcontinental rail transit time and allows customers with very time-sensitive freight the opportunity to sell coast-to-coast third and fourth day service — something previously only available through team driver over-the-road transportation," said Steve Branscum, BNSF group vice president, consumer products, in a prepared statement.

BNSF and NS plan to lower their coast-to-coast transit times by about 12 hours and reduce cross-town drayage through Chicago, said NS Vice President of Intermodal Marketing Mike McClellan.

The service follows a similar coast-to-coast, non-stop intermodal route BNSF and NS began April 19.

The Class Is provide eastbound and westbound service between Southern California cities Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernardino, and the following East Coast locations: Harrisburg, Morrisville, Bethlehem and Ameriport, Pa.; NS' ERAIL terminal near Newark, N.J.; Dockside and Croxton, N.J.; Baltimore; and Norfolk, Va.