BNSF Railway  is strengthening its commitment to Mexico in an environment where North American logistics are becoming increasingly integrated. Through the expansion of intermodal services , the development of temperature-controlled supply chain solutions, and a strategic assessment of the opportunities offered by the Mexican market, the U.S. railroad is outlining a strategy that combines operational growth, innovation, and efficiency to offer more reliable and lower-cost transportation options to customers operating in cross-border corridors. 

The company maintains its focus on a seamless cross-border supply chain for goods moving between Mexico, the United States, and Canada. “There has been steady growth in the movement of goods between Mexico and the United States, and we view this trend positively. From our perspective, anything that supports the consistency and expansion of these flows is beneficial ,” says Paul Hirsch, Assistant Vice President of BNSF’s Mexico Business Unit, in an interview. For customers, this consistency translates directly into more predictable transit times, better inventory control, and greater service reliability. 

In this context, the railway is driving solutions and innovations designed to minimize costs , simplify processes, and offer greater flexibility to shippers moving cargo along cross-border corridors, while also providing an excellent solution for reducing carbon footprints. One of the most significant opportunities identified by the company is the development of the intermodal corridor to Alliance, Texas, which connects Mexico with key U.S. markets as a more efficient, scalable, and cost-effective alternative to the traditional crossing through Laredo. 

“At BNSF, we see that customers can benefit from using Alliance, Texas, as an alternative to Laredo, with faster transit times, lower costs, and a simplified supply chain. This approach streamlines cross-border movements and reduces exposure to border complexity and congestion. For example, import shipments from Mexico typically use two trucks: one to Laredo and another from Laredo to the final destination, which increases costs and complexity. By leveraging intermodal service from Mexico, customers can avoid this situation, access ample rail capacity available throughout the corridor, reduce overall logistics costs, and improve shipment consistency,” explains Hirsch.

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El cargo BNSF doubles down on its commitment to Mexico with new intermodal and logistics services apareció primero en T21.

The State Transportation Board (STB) reported that it will announce on May 8 whether the new merger application between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) is complete in order to proceed with the proposed transaction.

“The board will determine the completeness of the reviewed request; such comments should address only whether it is complete, as comments on the merits of the proposed transaction will be sought at a later stage of the proceedings if the board accepts the request,” the agency said.

He specified that applicants can submit a response addressing any comments on integrity before May 12 , so that an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) can initially resolve all disputes for an efficient procedure.

“Interested parties should file any discovery motions as soon as possible to allow the ALJ to resolve discovery disputes expeditiously, and it may rule on any motion on the effective date of this decision,” he explained.

Following this comment and response period, the STB will make a decision on the completeness of the document , either accepting it as complete or rejecting it as incomplete. This determination should not be confused with a determination on the substance of the proposed transaction. If the STB accepts the document, it will issue a procedural timetable for comments on the substance of the proposed transaction.

Similarly, the STB required applicants to redesignate the Company Disclosure Annexes as public.

For its part, the railway company BNSF reported that it is carefully reviewing the application submitted by UP-NS, which covers approximately seven thousand pages.

“Although our review is still in its early stages, the fundamental premise of the proposed merger appears unchanged. For that reason, we continue to have serious concerns that this transaction is not in the best interests of customers, competition, or the freight rail network as a whole—concerns shared by many other industry stakeholders and government officials,” said Tom G. Williams, the firm’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

He commented that if STB accepts the request, it will act quickly to establish a formal procedural timeline , one of the main reasons being the deadline for clients and interested parties to submit a Notice of Intent to Participate.

However, he reiterated that they will provide more information and additional clarity on the procedural review established by STB, once they review the document.

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El cargo STB sets date to accept or reject UP-NS merger request apareció primero en T21.

The U.S. railroad NSF Railway has ruled that the potential merger between  Union Pacific (UP)  and  Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) is unnecessary, anti-competitive, and would increase rates, impacting the U.S. supply chain.

“Our nation’s supply chain does not need the reduction in competitive options or the inherent integration risk we have seen occur after nearly every Class I merger. No customer is requesting a merger between UP and NS. It is driven by Wall Street with the promise of a large payout for shareholders,” the firm said in a filing.

Among the impacts, he said, the merger is expected to concentrate control of the country’s freight transport market in a single railroad, which would lead to long-term harm to competition and resilience in the national supply chain.

According to the railroad, the merger between UP and NSC would control 45% of the total U.S. tonnage , compared to the recent merger that created Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) , which resulted in control of 5% of the U.S. market.

In that sense, he emphasized that such a merger would bring less competition , meaning fewer alternatives and higher fares, as well as a reduction in capital investment across the entire rail industry.

“The revenue and efficiency gains claimed to justify the merger’s excessive premium simply don’t add up. Carriers will cover the $85 billion merger price tag, despite UP’s claims that it will be paid for through 10% growth over three years,” he said.

He also noted that UP has a history of increasing traffic fares and aggressively cutting costs, which will impact the entire supply chain, which is why industries such as the chemical and agricultural industries are actively opposing this merger.

“Truckload and agricultural customers will be the most affected, as they will lose the option to ship goods to the eastern United States or face significantly higher rates on traffic currently exchanged with NSC,” he said.

He reported that, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data , a combined UP-NSC railroad would control 50% of the chemical market (higher prices for consumer goods), as well as 50% of the metals market (higher construction costs) and 50% of lumber (higher housing costs).

The railroad company stated that if this merger were to materialize, 300 intermodal lanes would be closed . It recalled that after the last major round of mergers alone, 90 such facilities were closed.

“BNSF does not believe that the appropriate competitive response is to acquire CSX at this time. We should not be seen as the solution to correct the competitive imbalance that UP-NS is trying to create. Wall Street and UP would like to force BNSF into a competitive merger that would establish a coast-to-coast duopoly controlling over 90% of our nation’s rail traffic,” he stated.

He explained that the supply chain in general wants and needs greater collaboration between railroads and shared customers, greater technological innovation, and more strategic investments through privately funded infrastructure, as is being done with the Barstow International Gateway and the recent announcement with CSX.

He argued that these alliances provide more options while preserving competition and flexibility.

“BNSF must continue to offer competitive and efficient transportation services and grow alongside our customers. This requires competition, which is not possible with a dominant railroad resulting from the proposed UP-NS merger,” he emphasized.

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El cargo BNSF warns of supply chain impacts from potential UP-NSC merger apareció primero en T21.

Union Pacific (UP) has deemed the Green Eagle Railroad (GER) project unnecessary , stating that current capacity is sufficient to meet rail demand at Eagle Pass , the second busiest crossing between the United States and Mexico.

In submitting a document outlining a series of factors that would harm its operation due to this project to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in the United States, following the publication of the environmental analysis for this new infrastructure, it indicated that the company’s request for exemption must be denied.

“The board should deny the petition filed by Green Eagle Railroad, requesting an exemption to construct and operate a new rail line. GER’s proposal is inconsistent with public convenience and necessity. There are significant questions about whether its operation would be less efficient and more costly than existing service, whether its operation would impair current services provided by Union Pacific and BNSF , and whether it is financially viable. The board should conclude that the additional information that would be provided in a complete application is required,” he argued.

It is worth remembering that GER, a subsidiary of Puerto Verde Holdings (PVH) , proposed the construction and operation of a second railway bridge between  Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, approximately 1.3 miles (just over two kilometers) , which seeks to expedite trade between the United States and Mexico, as it would alleviate rail and truck congestion and reduce cross-border wait times, among other benefits.

The line would be a double-track rail corridor with no highway/rail grade crossings extending from the UP interchange near Clark’s Park Shipyard, crossing the Rio Grande on a newly constructed bridge, fully fenced, manned and patrolled by security personnel, and including a new vehicle roadway.

Union Pacific emphasized that together with BNSF , they move approximately 19 trains per day . At the border, they exchange traffic directly with Ferromex , which supports their cross-border operations from the Río Escondido yard, located approximately 9.9 miles south of the border.

The railroad announced it is working with Grupo México Transportes (GMXT) subsidiary to move cross-border crew changes from the bridge to the Clark’s Park yard , reducing the time trains spend on the bridge and improving safety, service, and capacity. It will also build a new track at the north end of the yard that would allow it to prepare southbound trains for northbound operations, improving operational flow.

“The northbound lead project is advancing in design, and construction could begin as early as 2026. Third, plans are being developed to extend its main track at the southern end of the Clark’s Park yard to complete a second main line to the border, allowing for two-way traffic. The double-track project is in the early planning stages, and if necessary to accommodate traffic growth, construction could begin in 2028,” he said.

He also stated that the bill would increase the number of carriers required to complete cross-border movements, and therefore their complexity and cost, but would not increase the number of independent routing options available to shippers.

“GER does not appear to have a viable plan to operate its proposed line without disrupting existing service offered by UP and BNSF. GER’s request does not address the practical problems that would arise from moving cross-border trains averaging 9,300 feet in length, while only 1,335 miles of new track would be built between the border and its connection to the Eagle Pass Subdivision,” he stated.

Noting a number of complications, UP said the additional work and congestion would increase transportation costs and reduce service quality, among other impacts .

“GER is not proposing to create an entirely new rail service option or a competitive alternative to existing rail services; it is simply proposing to insert an additional rail carrier into the existing cross-border routes of UP-Ferromex and BNSF-Ferromex,” he stated.

Last August, the STB’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) published and approved the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the GER project. The draft EIS analyzes the proposal’s impacts on its northern and southern rail alternatives, the latter being the best option and the one that would extend between the existing UP main line.

The Surface Transportation Board will now consider the merits of the transportation project and the entire environmental record, including the draft EIS, the final EIS, and all comments received, to make a final decision.

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El cargo Union Pacific deems second rail bridge at Eagle Pass unnecessary apareció primero en T21.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) has declined to participate in any immediate consolidation of the rail industry , despite suggestions from some that it might, saying it is not necessary for the industry as it is currently structured.

“We believe a transcontinental merger would trigger a permanent restructuring of the industry and result in a disproportionately large railroad whose size and scope would require others to take action,” said Keith Creel, president and CEO of CPKC.

He explained that if implemented, it would likely result in an unnecessary wave of railroad mergers , “which is not the best way to support American businesses or the public interest today, and has the potential to create more problems than it solves.”

The company, he stated, remains focused on delivering more benefits and unique value-creating opportunities from its tri-nation network, which connects shippers across North America through effective interline service options.

“CPKC firmly believes that, given what the existing competitive landscape has proven to offer, any major rail merger poses unique and unprecedented risks to customers, rail employees, and the broader supply chain. Those risks would be exacerbated by the inevitable subsequent consolidation,” he said.

In this regard, he noted that the six major railroads in the United States are capable of offering their customers high-quality , virtually seamless transportation services across the continent.

This, he said, as evidenced by CPKC and CSX ‘s previous partnerships in the Southeast, as well as the recently announced partnership between BNSF and CSX, remains an opportunity for further cooperation between railroads “willing” to improve service and preserve optionality for shippers.

He also noted that benefits in support of transcontinental mergers can be achieved through new and expanded industry partnerships , innovations in customer service, and additional cooperation among railroads.

“CPKC continues to pursue these opportunities, such as its recently announced collaboration with CSX on the Southeast Mexico Express service connecting the southeastern United States with Mexico,” Creel said.

Against this backdrop, he indicated that the U.S. rail network has the capacity and operational fluidity necessary to safely drive many years of service improvement, volume growth, truck conversion, and the resulting value creation for the nation’s rail carriers in support of the U.S. economy.

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El cargo CPKC says another US rail merger is not necessary. apareció primero en T21.

U.S. railroads CSX and BNSF have launched new intermodal services that will provide seamless and efficient coast-to-coast shipping solutions between the west and east coasts of the United States, as well as internationally.

“This collaboration demonstrates the power of partnership, providing greater flexibility, efficiency, and value for our customers. We expect these offerings to provide immediate and optimized service to the supply chain in key markets across the country,” said Jon Gabriel, vice president of consumer products for the BNSF Group.

They mentioned that these will include the introduction of direct coast-to-coast domestic intermodal services between Southern California and Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida.

A new service will also be launched between Phoenix, Arizona, and Atlanta, Georgia , with the goal of converting over-the-road (OTR) freight to rail through a seamless product between the two railroads.

Similarly, the introduction of new direct international intermodal services between the Port of New York and New Jersey, and Norfolk, Virginia, and Kansas City.

Between Phoenix and Flagstaff, two new 10,000-foot sidings will further support this growing market by enabling more efficient through operations on the route connecting to BNSF’s Southern Transcon.

“Through this new connectivity, CSX and BNSF are connecting the western and eastern U.S. markets, creating faster and more reliable service. Together, we’re opening up access to key markets and strengthening options for our mutual customers,” said Drew Johnson, CSX vice president of intermodal sales and marketing.

Both railways commented that these new customer-centric service products will offer immediate value to customers by increasing flexibility and optionality, while providing an integrated service for cargo moving across the country.

While not a merger, this announcement comes almost a month after the agreement between   Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) and Union Pacific (UP), a transaction valued at $85 billion and expected to generate approximately $2.75 billion in annual synergies. If completed, it would allow for the transportation of goods from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic coast.

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El cargo CSX and BNSF announce joint domestic and international intermodal service apareció primero en T21.

BNSF Railway has launched its new expedited rail service from Los Angeles to Houston, offering faster, more consistent, and more reliable transportation solutions compared to road options.

“Our expedited service is a strategic development that not only expands BNSF’s market reach but also connects two major metropolitan areas more effectively. By continuing to create more opportunities to convert over-the-road (OTR) freight to rail, we offer a direct and cost-effective solution for delivering freight to the dynamic and growing Houston area,” said Jon Gabriel, vice president of BNSF Railway’s Consumer Products Group.

The new offering spans from BNSF’s Hobart intermodal facility in Los Angeles, California, to Pearland in the Houston metropolitan area, Texas, and is designed to meet the demands of shipments requiring increased speed and reliability.

Jon Gabriel said the option provides a competitive advantage for shippers looking to optimize supply chains, especially those currently transporting freight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Houston .

“With expanded capacity and improved transit times from Southern California via BNSF’s busy Southern Transcon route, this new service provides more capacity and consistency for both current and potential customers,” he emphasized.

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El cargo BNSF begins accelerated service from Los Angeles to Houston apareció primero en T21.

NUEVO VALLARTA, NAY.- BNSF , JB Hunt and GMXT have joined forces to launch Quantum in Mexico , a cross-border intermodal service that will add greater freight capacity.

Quantum will operate on key routes connecting major cities and industrial centers in Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey) and the United States (Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, the West Coast, and eastern destinations).

Spencer Frazier, JB Hunt’s executive vice president of sales and marketing, said the service promises a 95 percent on-time delivery rate .

“This happens through partnership, commitment, as well as the integration of people and long-term planning; and we work with our clients to develop specific SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) so we can deliver that 95%,” he stated during Quantum’s presentation at the 26th Intermodal Congress 2025, organized by the Mexican Intermodal Transport Association (AMTI) .

Quantum’s service was launched in 2023 by JB Hunt, one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, and BNSF, the largest intermodal railroad in North America, but it only operates in the United States; but both now join GMXT, one of the largest railroad operators in Mexico .

“It’s a consistent and competitive service. We believe this will be a game-changing level of service, and we can reassure ourselves, at the most sensible speed of service, that intermodal can clearly be an innovation and a solution,” said Jon Gabriel, vice president of BNSF’s Consumer Products Group.

Quantum utilizes the latest advancements in tracking and monitoring systems, providing real-time visibility and control of shipments , minimizing delays and optimizing throughput. Support teams designated by JB Hunt, BNSF, and GMXT will provide 24/7 oversight, ensuring consistent and reliable transit times, including features such as priority transportation and railcar loading and unloading.

It’s worth remembering that in 2024, JB Hunt, BNSF, and GMXT launched intermodal service to and from Mexico via the Eagle Pass Gateway.

“This is a clear example of how we can develop or borrow from the United States’ creativity to expand to Mexico,” said Luis Hernández, GMXT’s vice president of Intermodal.

As more companies turn to Mexico to solve supply chain challenges, the country has become one of the world’s top 10 exporters , with more than two-thirds of its exports destined for the United States. Key export industries include automotive, manufacturing, agriculture, electronics, and other service-sensitive cargo areas. Nearly 70% of the cargo transported across the U.S.-Mexico border is transported using traditional land transportation.

Currently, intermodal transportation in Mexico represents just 4% of total freight movements transiting the country, a far cry from the 11% that occurs in the United States.

The collaboration between BNSF, JB Hunt and GMXT seeks to capitalize on the untapped potential of intermodal service for companies moving freight in and out of Mexico, including converting intercity ground freight to rail intermodal and optimizing container efficiency .

Proponents of intermodal service tout it as a more widely available ground transportation solution for reducing carbon emissions, reducing a shipment’s carbon footprint by an average of 65% compared to intercity ground transportation.

El cargo BNSF, JB Hunt, and GMXT launch Quantum in Mexico apareció primero en T21.

Starting next May, JB Hunt Transport will begin transporting refrigerated containers via an intermodal service between Monterrey, Mexico, and Pennsylvania , USA , a route that represents up to 15% savings compared to trucking.

Johnny Curiel, the company’s vice president of Mexico Services, explained that with this new client, they estimate an increase of 1,200 shipments , compared to the 6,000 currently handled by road.

“This client has had several reasons for switching to intermodal. They want to reduce their costs, but they also have internal environmental goals and find it very attractive because it helps them reduce their carbon footprint from shipping by more than 60%,” he said in an interview with T21.

The expectation with this client is to convert between four thousand and five thousand shipments to intermodal, with the remainder continuing by road.

He specified that this cargo will be transported through Ferromex , crossing through Piedras Negras, where it interchanges with BNSF . This will generate savings of between 10% and 15% compared to trucking. Furthermore, it has containers that can be opened and closed remotely.

“Our containers have a locking mechanism that we can install from our office so the doors can’t be opened. It’s a lock that can be activated, not remotely, once we load it, seal it, and that’s another benefit compared to trucking,” he commented.

He explained that the refrigerated intermodal service will move products that do not require inspection, although there are also exemptions. Therefore, if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requests it, it will be carried out at BNSF yards in Eagle Pass, where they have cold storage facilities to maintain the supply chain.

He noted that railroads such as BNSF and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) are working on a project to resolve the origin inspection so that this type of service can be extended to imported goods.

However, he stated that having refrigerated service via train between Mexico and the United States is “a very important change for the market , it didn’t exist, last year it started with CPKC and us, before if they wanted this service between the countries it was only necessarily by road and it works and is a good option, but now we have this, they can take advantage of the advantages of the railroad in terms of scale, benefits and efficiencies to reduce their cost and their carbon footprint.”

It is worth mentioning that in 2024, it began with a service between Monterrey and Chicago , derived from the potential they observed in this segment between Mexico and the United States, a country where these types of movements are already carried out and which also sees greater growth.

“We’re having very similar discussions in the United States where clients are looking to do the same. Other opportunities could begin this year,” he said.

Similarly, Johnny Curiel commented that, as a result of the transfer of the majority of the CPKC network’s intermodal service to Ferromex in conjunction with BNSF during the first quarter of 2025, they achieved 40% year-over-year growth. Meanwhile, their ground traffic remained at levels similar to those in 2024.

“In 2025, we’re focusing our energy on converting highways to intermodal. There’s a greater opportunity for customers who ship between Mexico and the United States, and vice versa, to increase and make their operations more efficient, reduce costs, and increase the resilience of their supply chains,” he said.

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El cargo JB Hunt prepares intermodal refrigerated service between Monterey and Pennsylvania apareció primero en T21.

CANCUN, Q. ROO.- Coincidences on the track. The main railway companies specialized in the movement of goods in Mexico, the United States and Canada observe that the Mexican market presents a wide potential for growth, which has generated the need to trigger investments and the construction of new intermodal services that cover the main industrial zones in North America.

“At GMXT (Grupo México Transportes) we are betting on infrastructure, we know that intermodal is what is coming, so in the following years we will be very focused on that, terminal growth, expansions of our routes, Laredos and double tracks to increase capacity,” said Jesús Rubín, Commercial Director of GMXT, during his participation in the panel Evolution and opportunities in the development of railroads , held within the framework of the XXV Congress of Intermodal Transportation of the Mexican Association of Intermodal Transportation (AMTI) .

Prior to the closing of this edition, GMXT announced that by 2025 it will make an investment of 410.3 million dollars for various expansion, security and efficiency projects that will allow it to grow and improve its service, as well as optimize productivity performance.

Paul Hirsch, associate vice president in Mexico for BNSF , added that this growth potential led them to enter into a commercial and operational alliance with GMXT and JB Hunt , with the launch in January of this year of an intermodal service between Monterrey, Silao-Bajío and Pantaco-Mexico City, which has allowed them to offer shorter transit times for cross-border movement with the United States.

He also indicated that they are also launching an “overweight corridor” between Mexico and Dallas Fort Worth, together with other logistics and transportation partners, such as EASO Transport ; they are also reviewing, together with AMTI, the possibility of developing temperature-controlled products in cross-border services between Mexico and the United States.

“There is a lot of potential for growth,” said Hirsch, who was awarded the Silver Container in the Lifetime Achievement category by AMTI this year.

For Humberto Vargas, vice president in Mexico for Union Pacific (UP) , one of the main railway companies in the United States with a commercial presence in Mexico for 30 years, the train is a fundamental piece in the consolidation of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC) and the attention for companies that are migrating to this region due to the effects of the relocation of their productive assets ( nearshoring ).

The UP executive contextualized that currently around 18 thousand cargo transport units cross the border between Mexico and the United States every day, while the railroad, in general, crosses about 800 containers , which is just under 5% of what is traded between both nations. “Mexico is an option for growth, we see it as a growth engine,” he said.

In April of last year, Canadian National Railway (CN) , UP and GMXT announced the creation of the Falcon Premium intermodal service , just one week after the merger between Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) to form Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) , creating the first seamless rail line in the entire North American region.

“The pandemic has led us to create commercial and strategic alliances (…) we are going all in,” said Rossana Cárcamo, director of Supply Chain and Business Development in Mexico and the United States for CN, another of Canada’s major railway companies, with a presence in Mexico for 25 years.

According to Adriana Covarrubias, Senior Manager of Intermodal Sales at CPKC Mexico, market trends have included more Asian companies moving their operations to North America, leading to an increase in demand for freight transportation in the North-South corridor.

In response to this situation, CPKC has also made new services and investments that promise to reduce the time it takes to transport goods, including its intermodal service Mexico Midwest Express (MMX) , launched in May of last year and linking the markets of Chicago, Kansas City, Texas, Monterrey and San Luis Potosí; as well as the construction of the second border railway bridge in Laredo, Texas, for 120 million dollars.

At another level of agreement, representatives of the railway companies indicated that they will seek to have more companies join the intermodal services that are currently offered, since there is a wide potential for converting goods that use road transport on long routes to do so via railroad, and for the last mile to be exclusively for road transport. But to achieve this, the directors emphasized that it is necessary to have operational standards on the intermodal ramps to facilitate access to more clients in Mexico.

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El cargo Mexico, a growth opportunity for North American railroads apareció primero en T21.