Railex


Railex LLC is or was a refrigerated rail service and third-party logistics provider that transports fruits, vegetables and other temperature sensitive cargo across the United States, in partnership with the Union Pacific Railroad and CSX. In 2006 Railex launched service between Wallula, Washington, and Rotterdam, New York, followed in 2008 by a Delano, California, to NY lane. Railex runs unit trains of 55 large, "plate F" refrigerated cars and promises regularly scheduled departures and arrival on a five-day service schedule. It claims reduced carbon emissions when compared to conventional trucking. In 2017, Union Pacific acquired Railex's cold storage facilities and terminals at Delano, California; Wallula, Washington; and Rotterdam, New York, but not its wine unit, Railex Wine Services LLC, now known as Northwest Wine Services.In May 2020, Union Pacific discontinued both services. Railex' system is based on palletized cargo, which is loaded and unloaded indoors in temperature controlled docks that preserve a cold chain for the cargo. It also provides warehousing and can handle less-than-truckload shipments. In June 2014, Railex opened a new facility in Jacksonville, Florida, with service from the west coast, and plans to add a facility near Chicago later in the summer.

Competition

Two additional refrigerated train services were announced in 2013, the Green Express, from Tampa, Florida, to Kingsbury, Indiana, operated by CSX and the Tampa Port Authority, and the TransCold Express operated by McKay Transcold, LLC and BNSF, connecting the California Central Valley with the midwest.