Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern will introduce a new domestic intermodal service that is designed to expand freight connectivity while enhancing efficiency for transportation throughout the United States. This partnership takes advantage of Union Pacific’s extensive western and southern rail network combined with Norfolk Southern’s modernized intermodal facilities located in the Louisville area.
The service, which is set to begin in mid-October, will serve the automotive, consumer products, food and beverage, healthcare, and manufacturing industries. Through resource collaboration, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are offering truck-competitive transit times as well as an expanded reach into vital markets.
The route is structured as a bi-directional service that begins and ends in the Louisville market, with an interchange taking place between the two railroads in Kansas City. From there, it will move by rail to and from Los Angeles, Lathrop in California, Seattle, Portland in Oregon, Salt Lake City, and Houston. This approach reflects the ongoing strategy of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern to create innovative interline service products, continuing their history of collaborating with short line and Class I partners to support the growth of American economy.
The launch is supported by investments from both Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. For Union Pacific, the newly established Kansas City Intermodal Terminal (KCIT) serves as a critical interchange hub. This facility links domestic and international shipments of products such as grains, consumer goods, refrigerated items, and auto parts from the Midwest to key US markets. Recent operating changes also enable domestic containers to travel about 25% quicker, saving up to 25 hours of travel time between Southern California and KCIT.
Norfolk Southern, on the other hand, has centered on developing its presence in Louisville. Historically focused on international intermodal operations, the company has rearranged terminal operations to increase parking and track capacity to meet the increasing demand in the domestic freight market. Norfolk Southern’s intermodal franchise covers 54 terminals and links to all major container ports on the Atlantic coast, key ports on the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes.
“Our customers want easier, more reliable freight solutions that they can depend on, and our robust service delivers that,” said Kenny Rocker, Executive Vice President – Marketing and Sales at Union Pacific. “Enhancements to the newly expanded Kansas City Intermodal Terminal and Norfolk Southern investments in Louisville allow us to compete with trucks, removing thousands from the nation’s congested highways.”
“Our enhancements in the Louisville market reflect how intently we listen to our customers and translate their feedback into thoughtful planning and strategic infrastructure investments,” added Ed Elkins, Chief Commercial Officer at Norfolk Southern. “This is a growth area for our customers, so we are stepping up with service to help them reach untapped markets with a more reliable, sustainable alternative to trucking.”
