CSX Corp. and BNSF Railway announced a partnership to provide new coast-to-coast intermodal rail services, aiming to give shippers a seamless alternative to long-haul trucking. The first route will link Phoenix, Arizona, with Atlanta, Georgia, with both carriers saying the offering will integrate operations and cut transit times for containerized freight. The initiative is designed to convert over-the-road shipments to rail, potentially lowering costs and emissions for customers while expanding both companies’ reach in the fast-growing Sun Belt region. Additional east-west lanes are expected to follow as the two railroads coordinate schedules and equipment pools. Investors greeted the news cautiously, with CSX shares falling in intraday trading as the service agreement did not match speculation about a full merger between the two carriers. BNSF remains a unit of Berkshire Hathaway, while CSX continues to operate independently.