BNSF Railway

While a December 1 date for the merger application to be sent to the Surface Transportation Board (STB), regarding the historic proposed $85 billion merger between Class I railroads Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS), had been widely anticipated, UP CEO Jim Vena said at the UBS Global Industrials and Transportation Conference this week that the merger’s submission will be delayed for about two weeks.

The 15th Annual Rail/Intermodal Roundtable examines the current state of the U.S. rail and intermodal markets, highlighting modest carload growth, improving service levels, and the ongoing impact of tariffs, truck competition, and emerging technology. Experts also weigh in on the potential Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, forecasting that regulatory review and broader economic conditions will shape service, pricing, and growth opportunities over the next several years.

Jacksonville-based Class I railroad carrier CSX Corp. said today that Steve Angel was named as its new President and Chief Executive Office by the company’s Board of Directors, effective September 28. Angel will replaced previous president and CEO Joe Hinrichs, whom has departed the company and had been with CSX for three years, joining the company in September 2022.

Logistics Management Group News Editor Jeff Berman spoke with Chris Jahn, President & Chief Executive Officer, at the Washington, D.C.-based American Chemistry Council (ACC). Topics covered included: the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger; railroad service and pricing; and the regulatory environment, among others.

CSX and BNSF officials said that these new intermodal services will provide immediate value for customers in various ways, including increasing flexibility and optionality, while delivering integrated service for freight moving across the U.S.

Discover the winners of Logistics Management's prestigious “42nd Annual Quest for Quality Awards,” honoring top performers in transportation and logistics services. This year's survey garnered over 3,017 responses, evaluating providers across key criteria like On-time Performance, Customer Service, and Information Technology.

A Bloomberg report, citing people familiar with the matter, noted an agreement could be reached as soon as this week, adding, if the deal came to fruition, it would represent the largest railroad deal on record.

Fort Worth, Texas-based Class I railroad carrier BNSF Railway said it rolled out a new, expedited, third-day rail service, running from Los Angeles to Houston. Company officials said that this service, which went live on July 10, is comparable to over-the-road service options and represents a significant advancement in the company’s ability to deliver fast, consistent and reliable transportation offerings.

A trio of freight transportation service providers—J.B. Hunt Transport Services, a subsidiary of Lowell, Ark.-based trucking and intermodal services bellwether J.B. Hunt, Fort Worth, Texas-based Class I railroad carrier BNSF Railway, and Mexico-based rail services provider GMXT—rolled out a new intermodal service focusing on the Mexican market.

J.B. Hunt Transport signed a multiyear deal with global retail giant Walmart, with a key component of the deal being its acquisition of Walmart’s intermodal assets, including its operational intermodal container and chassis fleets.  

The companies said that the new service, entitled Quantum, accommodates what they called the service-sensitive highway freight needs of customer supply chains. And they added that the main objective of the service is on providing the consistency, agility, and speed required to move sensitive freight via rail, with a specific customer focus on service expectations, transit requirements, and operational procedures.

The rapid development of electric and autonomous vehicles will arm trucking with competitive tools and advantages that they’ve not seen in quite some time.

Earlier this month, Fort Worth, Texas-based Class I railroad carrier BNSF Railway said it plans to invest more than $1.5 billion into what it described as a Southern California “state-of-the-art master-planned rail facility,” adding it is the first being developed by a Class I railroad.