Aug 9, 2005 9:45 AM, from staff and wire reports

Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and CSX Transportation are joining forces to offer a transcontinental, 55-car train of new refrigerated boxcars that will travel from Wallula WA to Albany NY in just over five days.

According to UP, the expedited train initially will haul mainly apples on the 124-hour trip, with other produce a possibility later. Each boxcar can transport four truckloads of produce.

UP and CSX have teamed up before on a similar venture. A once-a-week train dedicated to four-day United Parcel Service shipments was provided for less than a year before its termination in May 2004 due to congestion and delays in service.