BNSF Receives Approval for 4,500-Acre Barstow Intermodal Terminal in California

Barstow City Council has approved construction of BNSF Railway's Barstow International Gateway, a 4,500-acre integrated rail yard and intermodal facility in southern California, on June 18, 2026.

The terminal represents a multi-billion dollar infrastructure investment designed to handle container traffic from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Containers arriving at these West Coast ports will move directly to trains via the Alameda Corridor for inland distribution. The facility's position on BNSF's mainline gives it access to major transcontinental freight corridors serving the eastern United States and intermediate markets. The project addresses growing demand for rail-based container movement as West Coast port volumes continue to rise.

The Barstow International Gateway will combine rail yard operations with intermodal transfer and transload capabilities on a single 4,500-acre site. The facility is designed to handle significant volumes of international containers, reducing dwell time at coastal terminals and shifting cargo processing inland. BNSF selected Barstow for its strategic location approximately 130 km northeast of the Los Angeles basin, where land availability and rail infrastructure can support large-scale intermodal operations. The integrated design allows containers to transfer between ocean vessels, rail and truck transport modes at a single location removed from congested port areas.

The Alameda Corridor, a 32 km rail expressway connecting the ports to BNSF and Union Pacific mainlines, will serve as the primary route for containers moving from ship to the Barstow facility. This dedicated freight corridor was built specifically to expedite cargo movement from the San Pedro Bay port complex. By positioning the intermodal terminal on BNSF's transcontinental mainline, the railroad can move containers directly to Midwest and Eastern markets without additional intermediate handling.

The approval marks a major step in BNSF's strategy to expand intermodal capacity serving West Coast ports. Container volumes through Los Angeles and Long Beach have grown consistently, driving demand for additional rail-based distribution infrastructure. The Barstow facility will compete with existing inland terminals operated by Union Pacific and smaller regional facilities, while potentially relieving congestion at port-adjacent intermodal yards in the Los Angeles metro area. Construction timelines and operational start dates have not been disclosed.

Composed with AI assistance from public sources. Imagery generated by AI. Reviewed and edited by the Railex editorial team.