Rail Freight Cost from Honolulu, HI to Houston, TX for Paper / Pulp

Paper / Pulp
Estimated Tariff
$15,102
per car (all-in)
Per Hundredweight
755.1¢
cents per cwt
Rail Miles
2,209
routed via ARZC +6
Primary Carrier
ARZC
7-carrier interline

FSC factors as of June 2026 · URCS Phase III + carrier-published mileage FSC

Route Map

Map of rail route from Honolulu, HI to Houston, TX showing ARZC → BNSF → CFNR → CWR → NWP → SMRT → UP

Rail route · 2,209 mi · ARZC → BNSF → CFNR → CWR → NWP → SMRT → UP

About this lane

The Honolulu, HI-Houston, TX rail corridor primarily serves the paper and pulp industry, with the Arizona & California Railroad Company (ARZC) as the main carrier. This corridor is crucial for transporting raw materials and finished products between the West Coast and the Gulf Coast, facilitating significant trade. A notable routing detail includes the interchange with the Union Pacific Railroad in California, enhancing connectivity and efficiency for shipments.

Per-Leg Tariff Breakdown

Segment Carrier Miles Line-Haul Fuel Surcharge Total
Line-haul UP 1,523 $9,165 $1,066 $10,231
Short-line carrier CFNR (short-line) 191 $1,151 $134 $1,284
Short-line carrier ARZC (short-line) 190 $1,145 $133 $1,278
Short-line carrier SMRT (short-line) 176 $1,059 $123 $1,182
Short-line carrier NWP (short-line) 89 $537 $62 $599
Short-line carrier CWR (short-line) 39 $500 $27 $527
Estimated Tariff Total 2,209 $13,556 $1,546 $15,102

Run this lane through our calculator

Tweak weight, car type, or year and see how the rate moves. Or talk to us about your real shipment — we coordinate carload and unit-train moves for paper / pulp and other bulk commodities.

Comparable Lanes

Other paper / pulp corridors near this route.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to ship paper / pulp by rail from Honolulu to Houston?

Rail transit on this corridor typically falls in the 10-16 day range door-to-door, depending on car supply, interchange dwell, and any required transload. Steel Wheel Logistics does not publish guaranteed transits because every actual move depends on current network conditions and your specific origin and destination facilities.

What does the fuel surcharge add on a Honolulu to Houston rail move?

Each Class I publishes a mileage-based fuel surcharge (FSC) tied to the EIA highway-diesel fuel index. ARZC and any participating carriers each apply their own published cents-per-mile factor to the miles they handle. FSC totals on this lane re-derive monthly as fuel prices move; the figure shown is current as of the date stamped in the hero card above.

Does Steel Wheel Logistics handle paper / pulp moves?

Yes. We coordinate paper / pulp rail freight on single-line and interline routings across the U.S. Class I network, working directly with the carriers and any required short-line or transload partners. Contact us for a discussion of your specific shipment — we do not auto-issue binding quotes; every move is priced after lane and equipment review.

What car type is used for this kind of move?

Paper / Pulp typically moves in boxcar equipment. Actual car selection depends on the specific product spec, packaging, loading and unloading conditions at origin and destination, and current car-supply on the chosen carrier. We help shippers source the right equipment as part of the lane setup.

Is rail more cost-effective than truck on the Honolulu-Houston corridor?

At 2,209 rail miles, rail typically wins on bulk moves at this distance — rail's per-ton-mile cost compresses sharply above ~500 miles and even more sharply at unit-train volumes. Use our rail-vs-truck comparison tool to model specific volumes side-by-side, and remember to account for transload, drayage, and demurrage on the rail side.

Indicative estimate only. Steel Wheel Logistics does not guarantee rates. Actual pricing varies by railroad, equipment availability, contract terms, fuel-surcharge revisions, and lane conditions on the day of move. Use this page as a planning ballpark and contact us for a discussion of your specific shipment.