RailMarket.com · 02 November 2026 · en

Norfolk Southern replaces CSX as Schneider’s primary eastern intermodal rail partner

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Summary

AI · gpt-5.4-mini-2026-03-17 · relevance 45

Schneider National will shift its primary eastern US intermodal rail service from CSX to Norfolk Southern under an agreement announced on 29 October 2026. Freight is expected to move in November 2026, and Norfolk Southern says it has been preparing terminal capacity and track adjustments for the added traffic.

Malaysian suppliers should note the continued investment in North American intermodal terminals and track works, which signals ongoing demand for terminal equipment, civil works, and rail infrastructure services.

Ringkasan

Schneider National akan menukar perkhidmatan rel intermodal utama di timur AS daripada CSX kepada Norfolk Southern melalui satu perjanjian yang diumumkan pada 29 Oktober 2026. Kargo dijangka mula bergerak pada November 2026, dan Norfolk Southern berkata ia telah menyediakan kapasiti terminal serta pelarasan landasan.

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Schneider National will transfer its primary eastern US intermodal rail operations from CSX to Norfolk Southern under an agreement announced on 29 October 2026.
The agreement changes the rail network supporting Schneider's domestic intermodal business in the eastern United States. CSX, Union Pacific and CPKC have been Schneider's main railway partners, with Norfolk Southern now taking over the primary eastern role.
Schneider operates an asset-based intermodal network comprising approximately 26,800 containers and 23,900 chassis, serving more than 60 rail terminals across North America. Its company drivers handle more than 90% of domestic drayage movements.
Schneider CEO Jim Filter confirmed during the company's third-quarter earnings call that freight will begin moving onto Norfolk Southern's network in November 2026. The two companies have established a joint transition team, while Norfolk Southern has been preparing terminal capacity and making track adjustments to accommodate the additional traffic. Schneider has not disclosed the volume affected by the change.
The agreement gives Schneider access to Norfolk Southern's 22-state network and its ongoing intermodal investments. These include a new Cincinnati–Atlanta service, double-stack clearance improvements along the East Edge route between the Midwest and New England, and terminal expansions in Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina and Illinois.
Norfolk Southern reported a 3% increase in intermodal volumes during the third quarter of 2026. The railway is also upgrading facilities in Atlanta, Louisville, Harrisburg, Croxton, Chesapeake, Charlotte, Chicago and St. Louis, including terminal access, container storage areas and handling infrastructure.
Schneider already works with Union Pacific in the western United States. During its earnings call, the company identified the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger as a potential opportunity for future single-line transcontinental intermodal services, although its current business expectations do not depend on the merger.