Union Pacific Building New Intermodal, Logistics Terminal

Union Pacific Corp. said its new Joliet (Ill.) Intermodal Terminal will support customer growth by boosting international and domestic container capacity and improving rail traffic efficiencies in the Chicago area, the nation’s largest rail center.

Once it comes on line, customers from across UP’s network will benefit from Joliet’s annual capacity of 500,000 ocean-going containers.

Officials and customers gathered Thursday for the beginning of construction at the $370 million, 785-acre terminal and CenterPoint Intermodal Center — a 3,900-acre integrated logistics center.

Intermodal traffic has grown substantially over the last decade, particularly in the Chicago area, and the new capacity will allow UP to continue pursuing opportunities in the rail-truck market, the company said in a statement.

Union Pacific, which operates west of the Mississippi River, is the nation’s largest freight railroad by revenue.