MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In a move to compete with trucks, Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway announced Monday a new joint expedited service designed to reduce shipment transit times from eastern cities to Mexico, the Commercial Appeal reports.
The dedicated train service begins today. The service originates on Norfolk Southern in Atlanta; Harrisburg, Pa.; Charlotte, N.C.; Miami and Jacksonville, Fla. Norfolk will transfer the shipments to Union Pacific in Memphis.
Also, Union Pacific will use its intermodal facility in Marion, Ark., to reach Laredo, Texas, Mexico City and other Mexican markets, the companies said.
The companies said the service trims up to three days off the transit times for intermodal shipments.
In 2001, trucks moved 80 percent of the trade between the U.S.United States and Mexico; rail accounted for just 16 percent, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
“We’re offering the first dedicated train service to Mexico for shippers throughout the East,” said Mike McClellan, Norfolk Sourthern vice president of intermodal marketing. “Our latest partnership provides a reliable, secure and economical alternative to long-haul trucking on congested highways.”