BNSF on April 2 reported that the three partners have collaborated “to redesign and develop a three-day faster service product for inland point intermodal (IPI) traffic” that will have NWSA “building trains in less than two days dwell off the dock” and include a “seamless hand-off across BNSF’s Northern Transcon route.” The total time from “ship to Chicago,” it said, will be six days—“the fastest from any PNW gateway in North America.”
NS and BNSF will deliver all interchange traffic to one location (NS-Ashland), for a single crew swap, then move toward inland markets in Ohio, Pennsylvania and more, according to BNSF.
“This service product collaboration was an outcome of listening to our joint customers, who emphasized the desire to use more rail, but would need to also reduce inventory carrying and total landed transportation costs out of their networks in 2025,” BNSF Group Vice President, Consumer Products Jon Gabriel said. “We are proud to deliver a solution that accomplishes these goals.”
“The Northwest Seaport Alliance is excited to partner with BNSF and NS to offer this industry-leading service for shippers utilizing our gateway,” NWSA CEO John Wolfe added. “This is an example of how through partnership and innovative efforts we can respond to the needs of shippers and deliver best-in-class service for our customers.”
“At Norfolk Southern, we’re focused on delivering smart, customer-centric solutions—and this enhanced service from the Pacific Northwest to the Midwest is exactly that,” noted Shawn Tureman, Vice President Intermodal Automotive Commercial at NS. “By collaborating with BNSF and the Northwest Seaport Alliance, we’re offering a faster, more reliable rail option that helps shippers reduce transit time, cut costs, and streamline supply chains heading into 2025 and beyond.
