Union Pacific Introduces New Chicago-Southern California Freight Route

Union Pacific has announced the launch of a strategic initiative to strengthen its freight services by introducing a direct rail route linking Southern California to metropolitan Chicago.

The newly established route facilitates transportation between Union Pacific’s Lance Fritz Inland Empire Intermodal Terminal in Fontana, California, and its facility in Northlake, Illinois. This addition supplements the existing service connecting the same California terminal to Union Pacific’s yard in Joliet, Illinois.

With transit times averaging between four to six days for eastbound and westbound shipments, Union Pacific’s latest initiative appears aimed at capitalizing on market opportunities within the freight industry.

Beth Whited, president of Union Pacific, has highlighted the importance of transitioning freight to intermodal as a key focus for the company.

Furthermore, Union Pacific has expanded its reach by providing on-dock service at Port Houston, facilitating the transfer of intermodal containers from ships to railcars. Additionally, through partnerships with Canadian National and Grupo México Transportes, Union Pacific has introduced Falcon Premium, enabling cross-border freight movement between Canada, Mexico, and the US via Chicago.

Kari Kirchhoefer, senior vice president-premium at Union Pacific, emphasized the significance of the company’s expansion, stating, “Connecting Chicago to the Inland Empire is another example of Union Pacific expanding its services to more markets to meet our customers’ needs and to help capture over-the-road shipments, easing congestion on our nation’s highways.”