BNSF Testing New Intermodal Service

The Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway is testing a new service allowing customers to reserve intermodal service.

The railroad claims the system, called RSVP, is the first of its kind and will offer improved service and reliability.

RSVP will be tested through June in the eastbound corridors from Southern California to Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis and Memphis, Tenn.

Customers will be able to reserve intermodal service two weeks in advance by using a fax form that can be printed from the railroad’s Web site.

Systems for reserving intermodal equipment like containers already exist, said a BNSF spokesman, but RSVP is the first program that allows shippers to reserve space on a train.

“It’s like the difference between renting a suitcase to go for a trip on an airplane and actually buying a ticket to make sure you have a place to sit on the plane,” said David Longsworth, manager of marketing communications for BNSF.

For the full story, see the March 29 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.