August 7, 2025
Dear Premium Intermodal Customers,
Union Pacific is excited to announce the launch of a new expedited Z train service connecting the Inland Empire in Southern California to the heart of Chicago. This exciting addition brings unparalleled intermodal capacity, enhancing the seamless service from the Los Angeles Basin's most active warehouse district through our Inland Empire Intermodal Terminal (IEIT) directly to Chicago's metroplex through our Global 2 Intermodal Terminal (G2). Customers will experience up to 20% faster intermodal service, with three days' transit, versus current industry options between these key locations. The service will start at five days per week with the ability to increase with growth. Given our continued expansion at IEIT, this innovative service will deliver consistent, reliable, truck competitive transportation, challenging the norms of over-the-road shipping and competing head-to-head with team driver truck services.
We will also be adding a strategic service product by shifting our Kansas City (KCIT) domestic service from the ICTF terminal to the City of Industry terminal in Southern California. Domestic units moving to KCIT will now ride in our expedited Z network six days per week, offering a more than 25% faster journey and up to 25 hours in savings compared to current industry options, with just over 2.5 days transit. Units originating in Kansas City will continue to ride the expedited Z train to the City of Industry terminal. These changes will complement our new, recently opened KCIT terminal and allow for expanded market access, efficient drayage management and enhanced logistics planning. Our Kansas City location offers technology that provides faster turnaround times, along with an optimal location in the Kansas City metroplex providing an elevated driver experience.
These strategic service products will boost growth, optimize the LA Basin and take additional trucks off the road with increased capacity throughout the network. You can read the full press releases here.
Both Standard and Priority Domestic COFC service will be offered in these lanes effective September 3, 2025. Published schedules will be as follows:
IEIT to Global 2
City of Industry – KCIT
Additional details will follow in a few weeks. Until that time, please direct all questions to your Union Pacific sales representative. Get ready for a game-changing development in intermodal transportation and join us on this journey to elevate intermodal transportation with Union Pacific!
Sincerely,
Union Pacific Premium Business Team