On April 21, BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) introduced its new Memphis Intermodal Facility to customers, the community, and state leaders during the facility's grand opening ceremony.
After a $200 million expansion and rebuilding, the facility is now fully operational. It will double BNSF's lift capacity in the Memphis market and is expected to improve efficiency while also reducing emissions and helping to improve air quality.
The BNSF Memphis Intermodal Facility spans 185 acres and will have the capacity to handle 1 million lifts per year at full build out. The facility is equipped with eight wide-span, electric, rail-mounted gantry cranes, which produce zero emissions on site and should significantly reduce the number of hostler trucks needed to move containers within the yard.
The facility also features a streamlined automated gate system that uses digital cameras to record images of containers, chassis, and tractors as trucks enter and exit. Drivers are also identified using a biometric system. The company said the enhancements have increased security while improving throughput and reducing truck idling time and emissions.
"BNSF greatly appreciates the support of all of the political and business leaders who worked with us to make this day possible. That support is an important part of the reason why Memphis has developed into one of the most strategic transportation hubs in the Southeastern U.S.," said John Lanigan, executive vice president and Chief Marketing Officer for BNSF. "BNSF's significant investment in this new facility will not only make this one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly intermodal facilities in the country, it will also help improve Memphis's position in the global supply chain by offering our customers more capacity and service options."