LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A new railroad service in Louisville is expanding transportation options for businesses shipping goods to the western United States.
Freight giants Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific have teamed up to launch a domestic intermodal rail service originating in Louisville. The new route connects companies in industries like automotive, consumer goods, food and beverage, healthcare, and manufacturing to major West Coast markets, including Los Angeles, Seattle, and Salt Lake City.
The service gives companies access to Union Pacific’s extensive western network through its Kansas City hub, offering a faster, more cost-effective alternative to long-haul trucking.
“This new service underscores our commitment to helping American manufacturers expand and compete in new markets,” said Ed Elkins, Norfolk Southern’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “Kentucky is a pivotal production and distribution hub… a true coast-to-coast railroad stands to unlock even greater opportunities for growth and connectivity.”
The rail service is already operational, with GE Appliances as an early adopter. GE Appliances, one of Louisville’s largest employers, uses Norfolk Southern’s local facility as an anchor hub for shipments.
According to Adam Wiseman, GE Appliances’ senior director of logistics, this service supports the company’s $490 million investment to move laundry production from China back to Louisville.
“This service strengthens our ability to deliver innovation at scale and reach customers faster and more efficiently while also removing trucks from the highway,” Wiseman said.
Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific have also proposed a transcontinental merger that would create a full coast-to-coast railroad network, though it’s still awaiting approval.
Regardless of the merger’s outcome, Louisville now serves as a key freight origin point, offering manufacturers a powerful new link to national markets.
“Louisville is the heart of American manufacturing,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg. “Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific’s investment proves that the future of business and manufacturing runs straight through our city.”
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