CN and CSX roll out new intermodal service partnership to take effect in October

Class I rail carriers CN and CSX announced this week that they will roll out a joint intermodal service offering, which will take effect on October 7.

This new intermodal offering will be geared towards CN’s greater Montreal and Southern Ontario areas, and the CSX-served ports of Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey and the New York City metropolitan area, according to CN and CSX officials.

CN and CSX executives both painted a positive picture about the potential of this future partnership.

“Over the long term, the freight market will increasingly depend on demand driven by the consumer economy and the rail industry must create new intermodal services that can successfully rival the over the road options,” said JJ Ruest, president and chief executive officer at CN. “This interline service fits perfectly with our strategic focus on feeding our unique network through organic and inorganic growth opportunities, including extending our reach into new geographic markets.”

And Keith Reardon, senior vice-president of consumer product supply chain at CN, said that the objective of this new intermodal offering is to convert long-haul trucks to interline
rail services.

“Trains will run directly into the heart of the metropolitan markets of Toronto and Montreal via CN intermodal yards, making this partnership a natural opportunity for both railroads,” he said.

CSX president and chief executive officer Jim Foote added that CSX is pleased to work with CN to deliver superior all-rail intermodal service into the Montreal and Toronto markets.

“Answering a need expressed by our customers, this new service positions us to capture market share from trucks and increases capacity in these expedited lanes, as larger container ships call at the Port of Philadelphia and Port of New York and New Jersey,” he said.