North America’s largest railroad, Union Pacific, announced on May 8 it has permanently discontinued its Cold Connect service for perishables shipping from the West Coast to the East Coast. The operation was launched in January 2017 when UP acquired Railex’s facilities in Delano, CA, Wallula, WA, and Rotterdam, NY.
In a company press release disseminated to the media, UP rep Kristen South, said, “Friday, May 8, we notified employees that Cold Connect, a Loup Logistics service that moves refrigerated products from the West Coast to Union Pacific’s warehouse in Rotterdam, N.Y., will permanently close. Most Cold Connect-related positions have been eliminated. This decision was not made lightly.
“Since acquiring the Railex assets in 2017, employees diligently worked to grow volumes and create a platform for the future; however, with COVID-19 impacting volume and truck prices, it is no longer sustainable to continue operations. Customers also were notified that Friday was the last day we accepted inbound orders. Our intention is to deliver on all product in transit, until it meets its final destination. A reduced staff will temporarily remain in position to execute these final commitments.”
