BNSF expands Phoenix to DFW intermodal service as freight demand rises

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BNSF Railway is expanding its intermodal rail service between Phoenix and the Dallas Fort Worth area to six days a week, responding to increased freight demand ahead of the domestic peak shipping season.

The enhanced service will move cargo from train departure in Phoenix to availability in North Texas in just over three days. BNSF said the offering provides shippers with a more economical and reliable alternative to moving freight by road between the two fast growing markets.

The railway announced the expansion on August 10, with the new schedule intended to support the conversion of highway freight to rail while increasing available capacity along the corridor.

BNSF said demand for the service had increased as customers prepared for seasonal shipping volumes and continued to monitor transportation costs.

“We’re seeing more customers looking for capacity solutions as we head into the domestic peak shipping season, while continuing to manage their transportation costs,” said Jon Gabriel, BNSF Group Vice President of Consumer Products.

He said the expanded schedule responds to changing market conditions by combining reliable transit with access to major markets and the capacity available through the railway’s intermodal network.

For shippers moving regular volumes between Arizona and North Texas, the service offers another choice alongside trucking. Like adding another lane to a busy freight corridor, the six day schedule gives cargo owners more opportunities to place shipments onto the network without waiting for limited weekly departures.

The service uses the Alliance Intermodal Facility in North Texas. The inland logistics hub provides connections to warehouses, distribution operations and large consumer markets across the United States.

Alliance also gives customers access to road and rail infrastructure within an established freight and industrial area. This allows containers and trailers arriving by train to move into regional distribution networks after becoming available at the terminal.

The Phoenix to DFW expansion forms part of BNSF’s wider intermodal development plans in Arizona, where the railway is constructing Logistics Park Phoenix.

The first phase of Logistics Park Phoenix is scheduled to open in early 2027. It will become BNSF’s second intermodal facility in the Phoenix metropolitan area and is intended to support additional freight capacity, industrial development and supply chain investment.

The development is part of the railway’s logistics park strategy, which places intermodal infrastructure alongside industrial and distribution facilities.

“As freight capacity and demand continue to evolve, we remain focused on investing in solutions that help customers grow with BNSF,” Gabriel said.

He added that the Phoenix and North Texas markets represent growth opportunities for shippers, with the expanded service and new terminal capacity intended to support future freight volumes between the regions.