According to BNSF, RMG is the largest partner in the Matchback program, averaging 15 to 20 trains per month. Since its founding, RMG has expanded its inland port operations across multiple states, with Minot serving as a critical hub. The Matchback program allows empty containers to be repositioned, loaded locally and sent to West Coast ports, enabling regional producers to efficiently access global markets. This 1,000th train signals strong demand and trust in intermodal capabilities, MACEDC stated in a news release.

At the heart of this success is the Logistics Park North Dakota (LPND), an 800‒acre development anchored by the Minot Intermodal Facility, MACEDC stated. The intermodal facility includes more than 130 rail‒serviced acres and three miles of track tied into BNSF’s mainline. MACEDC has played a pivotal role in its development, from purchasing asset rights to securing key partnerships, and driving the long-term leasing and operational model of the intermodal port.

The intermodal service reduces reliance on long-haul trucking, lowering shipping costs and increasing competitiveness for local producers. With access to U.S. ports in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, and access to dozens of international ports around the world, commodities such as soybeans, pulses, dried distiller’s grains from ethanol production and other agricultural goods can efficiently move to international markets.

“This milestone marks more than a logistics success. It represents jobs, investment and economic growth in the region,” said Greg Oberting, Rail Modal Group CEO, in the release. “We’re honored to be part of Minot’s vision for long-term development and proud to contribute to North Dakota’s role in feeding the world.”

Submitted Photo A BNSF Railway train is loaded with containers in making its 1,000 shipment from the Minot Intermodal Facility to West Coast shipping ports.

Looking ahead, MACEDC and its partners see opportunities for expansion, both in the number of trains and in the diversity of shipped commodities. With hundreds of acres of shovel‒ready property within the LPND, new industrial and logistics facilities can be sited directly adjacent to rail service, reducing startup time and risk for future investors.

“Minot has positioned itself as a competitive player in global logistics. With shovel-ready property and a strong intermodal partner in Rail Modal Group, we’re not just moving goods. We’re moving economic opportunity forward,” said Brekka Kramer, MACEDC president and CEO, in the release. “This is just the beginning. The success of RMG and the intermodal facility sets the stage for additional investment and growth. We’re excited for what this means for our community and the businesses we serve.”