en.Wedoany.com Reported - Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CSX Corporation jointly announced upgrades to the "Southeast Mexico Express" (SMX) premium rail service, aimed at reducing transit times and expanding logistics connectivity between Mexico, Texas, and the Southeastern United States. The new operational plan introduces more competitive routing and origin-destination options, with transit times shorter than highway transport, connecting markets such as Atlanta, Charlotte, and Central Florida with cities like Dallas, Monterrey, and Central Mexico.
The companies stated that the improvements have reduced transit times on different routes within the corridor by 20% to 45%. Key changes include: the Atlanta to Dallas trip shortened by approximately 1 day, and the Atlanta to Central Mexico trip reduced by nearly 2.5 days.
The optimizations are attributed to investments in rail infrastructure, bridges, and signal systems on the former Meridian & Bigbee Railroad corridor, as well as operational improvements in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel noted that the project aims to strengthen rail logistics solutions through higher speeds, flexibility, and operational capacity to meet the demands of emerging manufacturing and commercial markets in North America. He stated that these service improvements reflect the company's ongoing commitment to providing customers with more flexible, best-in-class transportation solutions, helping them access new markets in innovative ways. The executive added that this rail corridor offers a competitive alternative to highway transport for freight movement between the U.S. Southeast, Texas, and Mexico.
CSX President and CEO Steve Angel stated that investments in the corridor have enhanced operational reliability and expanded logistics capabilities for industrial and manufacturing customers. He noted that the improved SMX service demonstrates CSX's long-term investment to strengthen this corridor and its commitment to providing customers with more unified and reliable service.
The new SMX dedicated service enables 2-day transit from Atlanta to Dallas, 3-day transit from Monterrey to Atlanta, and 4-day transit from Central Mexico to Atlanta. Beyond Atlanta, the corridor has added connection points in Charlotte, Jacksonville, and Central Florida, expanding logistics coverage for the industrial, automotive, and intermodal sectors. CPKC and CSX initially launched the Southeast Mexico Express in December 2024 as a rail alternative focused on intermodal freight and cross-border logistics between Mexico and the U.S. Southeast.
This connection was made possible by the two railroads' acquisition of portions of the former Meridian & Bigbee Railroad, enabling the establishment of a direct Class I-to-Class I interchange point near Myrtlewood, Alabama. Schneider National, a company specializing in intermodal and combined transport, noted that the new operational plan will enhance rail's competitiveness against highway transport. Schneider President and CEO Mark Rourke stated that the service offers a more stable operational experience closer to highway speed standards, making it an attractive option for shippers.
The companies stated that SMX will expand logistics capacity, optimize delivery times, and strengthen sustainable rail solutions by replacing up to 300 highway transport vehicles with a single train, thereby helping to reduce pollutant emissions. The corridor's advantages include: direct connectivity between Mexico, Texas, and the U.S. Southeast; expanded origin-destination markets; enhanced operational safety through border crossing technology; and improved logistics efficiency for automotive, intermodal, and carload freight.
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