Triple Crown Intermodal Network

Inaugurated in 1986, Triple Crown (TC; a subdiary of Norfolk Southern), is a bi-modal transport network servicing the eastern part of the United States, including southern Ontario, Canada. It is using an hybrid technology since it combines specifically designed trailers with rail bogies (called RoadRailers) to form unit trains that can be composed of up to 150 trailers. Although Triple Crown is a form of intermodalism, the term bi-modal appears more suitable in this case since the load units are not transferred from road to rail (and vice-versa) in the standard sense of a load break where intermodal equipment is required (e.g. RTGs or side-loaders). The load units (trailers) are simply assembled in rail convoys at the origin and disassembled at the destination.

From an initial service of 150 trailers between California and Chicago, the network has grown to a fleet of 7,000 trailers servicing 14 dedicated terminals and accounting for more than 700,000 movements annually. Also, about 850 drivers are used for regional drayage. The network is structured in a classic hub-and-spoke design with Fort Wayne, Indiana acting as the hub. Trailers are picked up from customers and brought to the nearest TC terminal, generally over a distance of less than 200 miles (325 km). At the terminal, trailers are assembled into convoys by being latched unto bogies to form an intermodal unit train that will be forwarded to the hub (Fort Wayne). At the hub, trailers are rearranged into convoys for their respective destinations where trailers will be unlatched and drayed to the final customer.

One of the main advantages of this type of service if that it uses less intermodal infrastructure than a regular TOFC or COFC intermodal service. Terminals are simpler and smaller, requiring less capital investment while conferring an intermodal service over shorter distances. It thus tend to be complimentary to intermodal rail services since it dominantly focus on the domestic market while intermodal rail tends to be more of a port gateway / hinterland access service. Drayage distances are also reduced as the long distance haulage is done by rail. Still, specifically designed trailers are required and the service takes more time than a direct road connection.