July 16, 2025 - TRA Newswire -

BNSF Railway announced the launch of a new, expedited rail service from Los Angeles to Houston with the first operating train on July 10th. 

In a statement from the railroad, "This third-day service marks a significant advancement in BNSF’s ability to deliver fast, consistent and reliable transportation solutions, comparative to over-the-road service options."

Western railroads BNSF and Union Pacific have been sharpening up their faster-to-market freight lane services since the 2023 merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern merged into rival CPKC. All three Class 1 railroads have been beefing up and creating new service lanes to multiple city pairs in an effort to draw out new and expanded business, some of which could come from the trucking industry having hard times with recruiting long-distance drivers.

“Our expedited service from Los Angeles to Houston is a strategic development that not only extends BNSF’s market reach but also connects two major metropolitan areas more effectively,” said Jon Gabriel, BNSF Group Vice President, Consumer Products. “By continuing to create more opportunities to convert over-the-road (OTR) freight to rail, we provide a cost-effective, direct solution to bring freight to the dynamic and growing Houston area.”

The new offering spans from BNSF’s Hobart intermodal facility in Los Angeles to its Pearland intermodal facility in the greater Houston area and "is designed to meet the demands of shipments requiring enhanced speed and reliability", according to BNSF.

The statement indicated "The option provides a competitive edge for shippers seeking to optimize supply chains, especially for those currently draying freight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Houston. With expanded capacity and improved transit times out of Southern California across BNSF’s busy Southern Transcon route, this new service brings more capacity and consistency for both current and prospective customers."

The new service connects from the Hobart facility in Los Angeles with a fast Z-train (LACCLO) to Clovis, N.M., where it interchanges with another speedy Z train (CLOPEA) that carries shipments to the Pearland, Houston area yard.