Shipping and Logistics
BNSF Plans New Inland Hub for Southern California
Written by Becca Moczygemba
October 4, 2022
BNSF Railway is thinking of a master plan. The Class I freight railroad announced on Oct. 1 its plans to invest more than $1.5 billion into a master-planned inland facility in Southern California.
Named Barstow International Gateway, BNSF’s new hub location will be approximately 135 miles northeast from the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. The 4,500-acre integrated rail facility will include a rail yard, intermodal facility, and warehouses for transloading cargo from international containers to domestic containers. As containers arrive at the Gateway, they will be processed using clean-energy powered cargo-handling equipment before moving on to their respective destinations.
Katie Farmer, president and CEO of BNSF, noted that the increased efficiency of the Barstow International Gateway will maximize distribution efforts for the US supply chain as a whole, and decrease truck traffic, thus reducing emissions. She additionally expressed the relief it would provide to established intermodal hubs located in Texas and the Midwest.
The investment will contribute to the local economy with the creation of new railroad jobs, as well as reinforce the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles as significant entryways for imported goods.
BNSF Railway is one of the most prominent freight transport companies in the US, moving everything from consumer goods to low-sulfur coal. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, it operates about 32,500 miles of track throughout 28 states in the US and three Canadian provinces.
By Becca Moczygemba, Becca@SteelMarketUpdate.com
Becca Moczygemba
Read more from Becca MoczygembaLatest in Shipping and Logistics
Longshoremen ratify contract with maritime alliance
Nearly 99% of ILA members voted in favor of a new labor deal with the United States Maritime Alliance that covers workers at ports on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Reibus: Flatbed rates up slightly but uncertainty ahead
With construction seasonally soft, the flatbed market remains softer than the other main trailer types.
US-flagged ore shipments on Great Lakes down in 2024
The Lake Carriers’ Association reported a 4.5% y/y decline in December’s ore shipments of 4.6 million short tons.
ILA, port operators reach tentative deal to avoid strike
Both sides had agreed to extend the current contract to Jan. 15 to continue talks
Wittbecker: Challenges ahead for container freight in 2025
In 2024, volatility with a capital “V” has been the rule. That will remain high heading into 2025.