NS/UP to Speed Service Via Meridian Speedway

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

UP and NS announced that they will offer expedited intermodal service from L.A. to Atlanta.

From NS Intermodal website release at:

http://www.nscorp.com/intermodal/application;JSESSIONID_intermodal=G2KsvBnHtcsTNZHs2ssuOC0BJmA6pSG37Td9pXaQEPsqP7VFgMmd!-428854094?origin=content.jsp&event=bea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=Intermodal+News&category=News&contentId=english/intermodal/news/newsletters/news043007.html

NS and UP Improve Domestic Transcon Service from Los Angeles to the Southeast by a Day

Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific Railroad are pleased to announce a significant reduction in transit time for domestic service from Los Angeles to the Southeast. Effective Monday, May 21st, NS and UP will shift eastbound domestic interline service from Los Angeles to the Southeast from the Memphis gateway over to the new Shreveport, La gateway.

This new route, using NS’ and KCS’ joint venture between Shreveport and Meridian, is almost 150 miles shorter than the current route. The Shreveport gateway offers the shortest, fastest and most reliable intermodal route between Los Angeles and the Southeast.

Please note the following regarding this improved service:

  • Standard service into Atlanta will improve by one full day to a 5th morning product
  • BlueStreak service to Atlanta will now be available 4th afternoon providing a 600 mile per day product
  • Cutoff times in LA will be extended to allow more shipments to make the train
  • There will also be improvements to other southeast destinations

Complete schedule information is attached.

Routing and Terminal Changes Effective May 21st

  • All eastbound domestic shipments will originate at UP LATC
  • Billing instructions should be changed to show: UP-SHRPT-NS
  • International shipments will remain routed via the Memphis gateway

Proven Service

In late February, NS and U

2

WOW, so by entering into this relationship with NS, KCS has pretty much been cut completely out of the picture…who didn’t see that one coming?

3

Don’t shed too many tears for KCS. As part of the agreement for NS to use this route, NS dumped a ton (about $200M IIRC) of money into track/siding/signal improvement on the route which benefits KCS even after the usage agreement expires.

4

It used to be, that the Gateways that were most often mentioned where Chicago,St.Louis, Kansas City, New Orleans, and Memphis. Are New Orleans, because of hurricane damage, and Memphis, because of things like this news, becoming less and less as important as gateways between east and west?

5

Still kind of funny bragging about a 4th day pickup now at either end with teh speed up. Yet a team driven OTR truck can be there in 48 hours or less.