BNSF, NS TEAM FOR COAST-TO-COAST NON-STOP INTERMODAL SERVICE

CONGRESSMEN FIGHT TO SAVE TITLE XI PROGRAM    Burlington Northern Santa Fe Co. and Norfolk Southern Railway Co. on Thursday said they will team up to provide coast-to-coast, non-stop intermodal container service between California and the U.S. East coast.
   Fort Worth, Texas-based BNSF will provide service from southern California, via terminals in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernardino, Calif., to Chicago. Norfolk, Va.-based NS will provide service from Chicago to terminals in Harrisburg, Morrisville, Bethlehem and Ameriport, Pa.; ERAIL, Dockside and Croxton, N.J.; Baltimore; and Norfolk.
   “By offering a run-through service that eliminates Chicago cross-town truck transfers, this integrated rail service increases reliability between major markets in the Northeast and southern California,” said Mike McClellan, vice president, NS intermodal marketing.
   “This new service reduces transcontinental transit times by at least a day,” said Steve Branscum, group vice president for BNSF's consumer products business unit. The faster transit times allow the railroads to be competitive with over-the-road shipping, he added.