CPKC and CSX Announce Major Upgrades to Southeast Mexico Express Premium Intermodal Service
Published: May 7, 2026
By: Adam Burns
Dedicated trains and infrastructure investments slash transit times by up to 45%, offering truck-competitive service between Mexico, Texas, and the U.S. Southeast
May 7, 2026 — Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CSX Corporation today highlighted significant enhancements to their joint Southeast Mexico Express (SMX) premium intermodal service, which officially launched its upgraded schedule on May 4, 2026. The improvements include dedicated trains, faster routing, and expanded origin/destination options, delivering industry-leading transit times that position rail as a strong alternative to trucking for cross-border freight.
The announcement, made on May 6, emphasizes a direct Class I rail corridor linking growing markets in Mexico and Texas with key southeastern U.S. hubs such as Atlanta, Charlotte, and central Florida. New service features include two-day transit between Atlanta and Dallas, three-day service from Monterrey (Mexico) to Atlanta, and four-day service from central Mexico to Atlanta. Overall transit times across the corridor have improved by approximately 20% to 45%, with some routes seeing reductions of up to one day (Atlanta-Dallas) or 2.5 days (Atlanta-central Mexico).
These gains stem from targeted capital investments in track, bridges, and signals along the former Meridian & Bigbee Railroad (MNBR), which CPKC and CSX acquired portions of in 2024. The upgrades enabled a new direct interchange near Myrtlewood, Alabama, and boosted maximum speeds to 49 mph on key segments (previously as low as 10-25 mph in places). The result is greater reliability, capacity, and efficiency for intermodal, automotive, and carload customers.
CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel said the upgrades underscore the railroads’ commitment to innovative solutions: “These service upgrades, providing approximately 20 to 45 percent improvement to SMX transit times, reflect our ongoing commitment to providing more best-in-class, flexible transportation solutions... This is a premium rail solution that cannot be replicated because we have the best route linking shippers to Texas and to Mexico that will move more trucks to rail.”
CSX President and CEO Steve Angel added: “The upgraded SMX service demonstrates the long-term investments CSX has made to strengthen this corridor and provide more consistent, reliable service for our customers. By working closely with CPKC, we’re expanding access and delivering meaningful improvements for shippers moving freight between the key markets of the Southeast U.S. and Mexico.”
Multimodal provider Schneider National, an early user of the service, praised the enhancements. “The enhanced Southeast Mexico Express delivers more reliable and truck-like service, making it an attractive option for shippers looking to move freight between Texas, Mexico and the Southeastern United States,” said Schneider President and CEO Mark Rourke.
What Is the Southeast Mexico Express (SMX) Intermodal Service?
The Southeast Mexico Express is a premium intermodal freight service jointly operated by CPKC and CSX. It uses standardized shipping containers and trailers loaded onto rail flatcars or well cars for efficient long-haul movement, with seamless handoffs to trucks at origin and destination terminals (a “rail-to-truck” or “truck-to-rail” model). Launched on December 1, 2024, SMX created the first direct Class I-to-Class I east-west corridor connecting CPKC’s extensive network in Mexico and the U.S. Southwest with CSX’s network in the Southeast.
Key route and connections:
- CPKC segment: Handles freight from interior Mexico (e.g., Monterrey, central Mexico points like Querétaro or San Luis Potosí) through Texas gateways (including Dallas and Laredo-area connections) and into the new interchange at Myrtlewood, Alabama.
- CSX segment: Picks up at the Alabama interchange and serves Southeast markets such as Atlanta (GA), Charlotte (NC), Jacksonville (FL), and central Florida.
- The corridor leverages upgraded sections of the former MNBR (now integrated into the CPKC-CSX networks) plus existing lines through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.
Core benefits include:
- Speed and reliability: Truck-competitive transit times with dedicated premium trains, reducing reliance on highways.
- Capacity: A single SMX train can replace up to 300 semi-trucks, easing congestion and expanding options for shippers.
- Sustainability: Lower emissions compared to all-truck hauls.
- Security and efficiency: Advanced technology streamlines U.S.-Mexico border crossings.
- Market reach: Opens new doors for intermodal customers in automotive, consumer goods, and other sectors moving between Mexico’s manufacturing hubs, Texas distribution centers, and the fast-growing U.S. Southeast.
The SMX represents a strategic collaboration between the two railroads, made possible by their 2024 acquisitions and infrastructure work. It builds on broader North American trade growth, offering shippers more flexible, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional trucking routes.
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