Western U.S. Class I rail carrier BNSF and the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) are working together to develop a rail hub at the Port of Tacoma that will be known as Tacoma South.

The rail hub will serve the greater Seattle region’s domestic intermodal needs and “unlock capacity” through accommodating more than 50,000 annual container lifts, according to a news release.

BNSF plans to launch in mid-August with J.B. Hunt a direct container-only joint service between Tacoma South and Chicago.