BNSF adds R. J. Corman, OmniTRAX railroads to Shortline Select

BNSF Railway has added two railroads to its Shortline Select™ program: R. J. Corman's Tennessee Terminal (RJCK) and OmniTRAX Inc.'s Central Texas & Colorado River (CTXR).

Shortline Select, launched in 2024, was created to make it easier for shippers to grow their business with rail by combining the benefits of short lines' customized services with BNSF's network reach, which spans 32,500 miles, 28 states and three Canadian provinces. The combination of local expertise and broad reach helps create a more seamless experience for shippers, BNSF officials said in a press release.

In the program's first two years, Shortline Select has resulted in reduced car dwell, improved interchange fluidity and traffic volume growth across the participating short lines. The addition of RJCK and CTXR brings the number of participating short lines to 10.

As participants in the program, RJCK and CTXR will collaborate with BNSF on a suite of operational process improvements and pre-defined economic arrangements through the Class I's Premier Transload Program and Certified Site designation.

"Our growth in the Memphis, Tennessee, market alongside BNSF has been driven by delivering integrated, reliable service and partnering on strategic initiatives with our customers, including industrial development efforts to bring new business to the network," said Shannon Drown, R. J. Corman chief commercial officer, adding that the selection of the RJCK for Shortline Select reflects a long-standing partnership between the company and BNSF.

With a yard office in Olive Branch, Mississippi, TRJK operates about 37 miles of track and connects with BNSF in Olive Branch and Memphis.

"OmniTRAX is honored to have our Central Texas & Colorado River join the BNSF Shortline Select program in the same year that this line was re-opened for service," said OmniTRAX Chief Commercial Officer Ryan Dreier. "Central Texas is thriving, and Shortline Select further reinforces our BNSF partnership by providing expanded capacity and rail solutions for customers operating in this rapidly growing region."

CTXR's office is located in San Saba, Texas. The short line owns 66 miles of track. OmniTRAX purchased the railroad in 2016 and has since rebuilt 48 miles of track. It interchanges with BNSF in Lometa, Texas.