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Norfolk Southern & Union Pacific Launch Joint Freight Service from Louisville, Kentucky

  //automotive-transportation.news-articles.net/co .. nt-freight-service-from-louisville-kentucky.html
  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Sunday, November 16th 2025 at 4:59 GMT by The Courier-Journal

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Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific Launch New Freight Rail Service from Louisville, Kentucky

On October 27, 2025, two of America’s biggest rail carriers—Norfolk Southern (NS) and Union Pacific (UP)—announced the launch of a joint freight rail service that will see cargo moving from Louisville, Kentucky, across the Midwest and into the East Coast. The service, described as “a new era of collaboration in the freight rail industry,” will provide shippers in Kentucky and surrounding states with faster, more reliable access to the national rail network, while giving both carriers a fresh revenue stream in a market that has been dominated by trucking and air freight for decades.

The Service Explained

The new service will operate along NS’s main “Louisville Subdivision” that runs west from Louisville toward the Illinois state line, where it meets UP’s “Chicago Line.” Trains will then continue west to major freight hubs such as Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City, or head north to the Midwest’s industrial belt before looping back eastward to Kentucky and beyond. The collaboration leverages NS’s established track infrastructure in Kentucky and Ohio with UP’s extensive reach into the heartland and beyond.

According to the press releases linked in the Courier‑Journal article, each train will run bi‑weekly, with the first scheduled dispatch on November 10, 2025. The service will carry a mix of intermodal containers, bulk commodities (such as coal, grain, and agricultural products), and finished goods. NS will handle the “last mile” to Louisville’s intermodal yards, while UP will take responsibility for onward delivery to the Midwest and West Coast.

Why It Matters to Louisville

Louisville’s port and logistics hub have long been a focus of economic development. The city’s port, the third‑largest on the Ohio River, already moves more than 2 million tons of freight annually. Yet a large portion of that freight is still moved by truck, which places strain on Kentucky’s highway system and contributes to congestion and environmental concerns.

“The new service will bring rail freight directly to the heart of Louisville, reducing truck traffic, cutting emissions, and providing a more cost‑effective shipping option for manufacturers and distributors,” said Dr. Elena Ortiz, Louisville’s director of Economic Development. “It’s a win‑win for the city and for the rail industry.”

The Courier‑Journal article cites a recent survey by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, which found that freight carriers were willing to pay up to 30 % more for rail service if it cut transit times by at least one day. By providing a dedicated, reliable service, NS and UP can capture this willingness to pay while simultaneously alleviating the freight‑related bottlenecks that have plagued the I‑64 corridor.

Background of the Collaboration

Norfolk Southern, headquartered in North Charleston, South Carolina, operates about 20,000 miles of track across the Southeast, Mid‑Atlantic, and Midwest. Union Pacific, based in Omaha, Nebraska, controls roughly 32,000 miles of track that spans the western United States from coast to coast. Historically, the two carriers have been rivals, with occasional cooperation on trackage rights or interchange agreements. This new joint venture marks the first time they have agreed to share track infrastructure and jointly schedule trains in a dedicated corridor.

The article includes a link to a joint press release that quotes NS CEO Jim McCauley: “Our partnership with Union Pacific demonstrates our commitment to providing shippers in the Midwest and Southeast with more freight options, especially in the context of supply‑chain volatility that has been pronounced over the past few years.”

UP’s Vice President of Transportation, Mark Hall, added, “By working together, we can deliver a seamless service that spans the entire country, from Kentucky to the West Coast, and reduce the freight cost per ton for our customers.”

Implications for the National Freight Market

The launch comes at a time when rail freight is undergoing a significant transformation. The U.S. rail industry has experienced a surge in demand for intermodal capacity in the wake of the COVID‑19 pandemic and a subsequent rise in e‑commerce. Trucking has been hampered by driver shortages, increasing fuel costs, and regulatory changes, prompting many shippers to look to rail for larger, heavier loads.

In addition to the freight volume advantage, rail offers a more environmentally friendly alternative. A single Class 4 freight train can transport up to 1,200 containers, reducing the number of trucks on the road and lowering greenhouse‑gas emissions per ton‑mile.

The Courier‑Journal article cites a 2024 report from the American Transportation Research Institute that projected a 6 % annual increase in rail freight tonnage between 2025 and 2030. NS and UP’s new service is expected to capture a portion of that growth, especially for bulk commodities such as soybeans, corn, and lumber, which are abundant in Kentucky and the Midwest.

Local Economic and Infrastructure Impact

The service will require the expansion of intermodal yards and the modernization of rail connections in Louisville. The article links to the city’s master plan for the Louisville Intermodal Development Project, which includes a $120 million investment in yard upgrades, new loading docks, and an automated container‑handling system. The project is slated to begin construction in early 2026, with the upgraded facilities ready for the first trains by mid‑2027.

Local business leaders have welcomed the investment. “We’re excited about the infrastructure upgrades,” said Jonathan Miller, president of the Louisville Chamber of Commerce. “It’s an indication that the city is serious about positioning itself as a freight hub, not just a highway terminal.”

Moreover, the new service is projected to create 200–300 direct jobs in the region, including rail yard personnel, equipment operators, and logistics planners. Indirectly, the improved freight options are expected to attract new manufacturers to Louisville, boosting the region’s manufacturing output and further diversifying the local economy.

Looking Forward

While the first trains are slated to depart later this year, NS and UP have already begun working on ancillary services such as dedicated freight lanes, real‑time tracking dashboards for customers, and coordinated safety protocols between the two companies. The Courier‑Journal article notes that a joint task force has been established to monitor the service’s performance over the first 18 months, with the goal of scaling up operations based on demand and operational data.

“Rail is a proven, efficient, and resilient mode of freight transport,” said Hall. “By partnering, we’re ensuring that shippers have access to a network that can handle the challenges of modern logistics.”

The collaboration between Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific represents more than a commercial arrangement; it signals a broader trend toward cooperative competition in the rail industry. As supply chains become increasingly complex and environmental concerns grow, carriers that can offer integrated, customer‑centric solutions are likely to thrive. The Louisville launch is a tangible step toward that future, offering a model for other regions to emulate.

Key Takeaways

• NS and UP will launch a bi‑weekly freight service from Louisville to the Midwest and East Coast.
• The service will carry intermodal containers, bulk commodities, and finished goods.
• Louisville stands to benefit from reduced truck traffic, new infrastructure, and job creation.
• The collaboration reflects a broader industry shift toward joint operations and customer‑focused services.
• The partnership may capture growing rail freight demand and improve the national freight network’s resilience.