BNSF Railway has launched a new intermodal service connecting California and Salt Lake City, Utah, enhancing freight transport capacity across the Western U.S. The service officially began on July 23 with the departure of the first double-stack train, offering customers a direct corridor for containerized cargo.
The route utilizes BNSF’s infrastructure in California and interchanges with the Salt Lake Garfield & Western Railway (SLGW) in Salt Lake City. A portion of the route crosses tracks operated by Union Pacific (UP), made possible by longstanding trackage rights granted during UP’s 1996 merger with Southern Pacific. Earlier this month, BNSF filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to prevent potential interference from UP. The two railroads reached a resolution before the STB issued a ruling.
This service expands BNSF’s intermodal network, offering competitive shipping alternatives between California and the Intermountain West. The use of double-stack trains improves cargo efficiency and supports demand growth for long-haul rail freight.
The launch follows a broader industry push to improve logistics networks, reduce reliance on trucking, and increase rail freight reliability.