CPKC, CSX upgrade Southeast Mexico Express with faster transit times

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CSX Corp. say they have upgraded their Southeast Mexico Express (SMX) premium rail service, offering faster transit times and expanded market access across the U.S. Southeast, Texas and Mexico.

The companies said the enhanced service, launched May 4, provides truck-competitive transit times between cities including Atlanta, Charlotte and central Florida, and destinations such as Dallas and Monterrey. Improvements include transit time reductions of about one day between Atlanta and Dallas, and roughly 2.5 days between Atlanta and central Mexico.

The upgrades follow infrastructure investments along the former Meridian & Bigbee Railroad corridor and across several southeastern U.S. states, aimed at increasing speed and efficiency.

“These service upgrades, providing approximately 20 to 45 per cent improvement to SMX transit times, reflect our ongoing commitment to providing more best-in-class, flexible transportation solutions to our customers looking for innovative ways to reach new markets,” said Keith Creel, CPKC president and CEO. “Together with CSX, the SMX offers a level of speed, flexibility and dependability that reaches additional growing markets in the U.S. Southeast. 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 said the enhancements build on long-term investments in the corridor.

“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,” said Steve Angel, president and CEO of CSX. “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.”

The companies said the dedicated service now offers two-day transit between Atlanta and Dallas, three-day service from Monterrey and four-day service from central Mexico to Atlanta. New origin and destination points include Charlotte, Jacksonville and central Florida.

The SMX service was first introduced in December 2024 following the companies’ acquisitions of portions of the Meridian & Bigbee Railroad, enabling a direct interchange in Alabama.

Schneider National Inc., a transportation and logistics provider, said it has already used the service and sees strong demand in the corridor.

“Schneider has seen firsthand the value of continued collaboration with our railroad partners in bringing new, innovative intermodal products to market,” said Schneider President and CEO Mark Rourke. “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. There is strong demand in these lanes, and the upgrades further strengthen rail’s ability to compete with trucks on speed and consistency while offering customers greater capacity and efficiency.”

The companies say the service is designed for intermodal, automotive and carload shipments, offering increased capacity, improved efficiency and reduced emissions compared with truck transport.