New Joint Lanes Cut Transit Times Sharply
BNSF Railway and CSX Corporation have rolled out expanded intermodal services — including new coast‑to‑coast lanes — that significantly shorten shipment times between the U.S. West Coast and Eastern & Midwestern markets.
According to the railroads, new five‑day‑a‑week schedules from Los Angeles (Hobart) to CSX terminals in the Ohio Valley and Northeast reduce transit times by 22 to 52 hours compared with previous options.
Key Routes & Network Expansion
Under the agreement announced in August 2025, BNSF and CSX introduced:
- Direct domestic intermodal routes from Southern California to Charlotte, North Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida
- A new Phoenix–Atlanta corridor, aimed at shifting freight from over‑the‑road trucking to rail.
- Enhanced connectivity between major ports and inland hubs, including international intermodal services linking East Coast ports and inland destinations such as Kansas City, Missouri.
- Infrastructure support via two new 10,000‑foot sidings between Phoenix and Flagstaff to improve throughput on the busy Southern Transcon route.
Strategic Implications for Supply Chains
This expanded rail partnership arrives amid growing demand for alternatives to long‑haul trucking — driven by rising fuel costs, driver shortages, and pressure to decarbonize logistics. For many shippers, the BNSF‑CSX offering delivers a more efficient, cost‑predictable and sustainable option.
For industries dependent on coast‑to‑coast movement — consumer goods, retail, manufacturing — the new lanes offer greater flexibility, faster transit, and improved reliability. Meanwhile, ports on the East Coast and inland hubs could see rising volumes as intermodal becomes a more attractive mode.
Rail executives frame the expansion as a demonstration of what collaboration can achieve: “faster, more reliable service, increased flexibility and optionality,” and integrated national‑scale rail solutions.
What This Means: Rail Gaining Ground on Trucking
With these improvements, BNSF and CSX are positioning intermodal rail as a competitive — and in many cases superior — alternative to trucking for long‑haul freight. The updated service levels and expanded routing likely mark a tangible shift in the balance of U.S. freight transport.
As the railroads continue to expand capacity and optimize operations, expect more shippers to evaluate intermodal as a key component of their supply‑chain strategy.
