Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) has launched an intermodal service offering the first single-track, competitive truck service option between the Midwest and Mexico.
As the only dedicated intermodal trains operating daily between the US and Mexico, the Mexico Midwest Express (MMX) series provides the fastest transit times in the rail industry with the longest reach in more markets, according to CPKC.
The MMX series debuted on May 11 with trains MMX-180 and MMX-181 now connecting the Chicago, Kansas City, Texas, Monterey and San Luis Potosi markets.
Trains offer third-day service to and from Laredo, fourth-day to and from Monterey, and 4.5 days to and from San Luis Potosi.
MMX provides a total transit time of 98 hours from Chicago to San Luis Potosi, a day faster than the nearest competitor, CPKC said.
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The company expects that a diverse group of shippers, handling a variety of products, will use this new service. CPKC hopes that the performance of the service on one transport line, combined with the cross-border service, will make intermodal transit times competitive with road trucks.
Converting trucks to rail also reduces emissions and makes highways safer, according to CPKC.
“Mexico Midwest Express truly offers best-in-class service and represents the growth potential of providing competitive truck service and reliable rail transportation options for shippers with the newly combined CPKC,” said CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel.
“This is a game changer for this essential North-South trade corridor. Customers are already signing up for these new options as we compete hard to grow our business,” Creel added.
The merger of CPKC, the first and only single-track rail network connecting Canada, the US and Mexico, went into effect just last month.
On December 14, 2021, CP completed the acquisition of KCS for $31 billion. The US Surface Transportation Board then approved the acquisition in March 2023, marking the final step in creating the new rail network.
This launch comes less than a month after CN, Union Pacific Railroad and GMXT announced the launch of Falcon Premium intermodal service connecting Mexico, the US and Canada.