News & Reviews News Wire BNSF launches expedited intermodal service linking Los Angeles with Houston

BNSF launches expedited intermodal service linking Los Angeles with Houston

By Bill Stephens | July 15, 2025

The third-day service for domestic shipments began last week, the railroad announced today

Email Newsletter

Get the newest photos, videos, stories, and more from Trains.com brands. Sign-up for email today!

An eastbound BNSF Railway intermodal train climbs toward Summit on Cajon Pass in California on Sept. 11, 2021. Bill Stephens

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has launched expedited intermodal service from Los Angeles to Houston on a schedule that shaves two days from previous transit times.

“By continuing to create more opportunities to convert over-the-road freight to rail, we provide a cost-effective, direct solution to bring freight to the dynamic and growing Houston area,” Jon Gabriel, BNSF’s group vice president, consumer products, said in a statement.

The new third-day service from the Hobart terminal in Los Angeles to the Pearland facility in the Houston area is designed to meet the needs of customers that require faster service, especially for those currently draying intermodal loads from Dallas-Fort Worth to Houston, BNSF said.

The new service, which debuted on July 10, rides Hobart-Clovis, N.M., train Z-LACCLO and Clovis-Pearland train Z-CLOPEA.

Note: Updated at 3:45 p.m. Central with additional information from BNSF.

5 thoughts on “BNSF launches expedited intermodal service linking Los Angeles with Houston

  1. Obviously it can take a lot of the over the road traffic off the Interstates.. If a customer really needs expedited service I’m sure a trucker doesn’t take three days to get from LA-Houston though.

    1. Driving distance is about 1550 miles, so it would be quite a feat to make it in less than 3 days, especially with the hours of service rules.

  2. will this compete with UP ? 3 days to make LAX- HOU. The Sunset is scheduled of 38 hours LAX – HOU. Can UP make it in less than 3 days?

  3. BNSF is truly a railroad that is trying to take trucks off the road and more power to them heres hoping they have great success in all their ventures.

You must login to submit a comment