Rail Freight Cost from Seattle, WA to Manhattan, NY for Plastic Pellets

Plastic Pellets
Estimated Tariff
$22,557
per car (all-in)
Per Hundredweight
1127.9¢
cents per cwt
Rail Miles
3,024
routed via AMTK +16
Primary Carrier
AMTK
17-carrier interline

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

Route Map

Map of rail route from Seattle, WA to Manhattan, NY showing AMTK → BNSF → CPRS → CSAO → CSXT → LI → MNNR → NJT → NLR → NS → NYNJ → OTVR → RJCL → SCIH → UP → WSOR → XXXX

Rail route · 3,024 mi · AMTK → BNSF → CPRS → CSAO → CSXT → LI → MNNR → NJT → NLR → NS → NYNJ → OTVR → RJCL → SCIH → UP → WSOR → XXXX

About this lane

The Seattle, WA-Manhattan, NY rail corridor for plastic pellets is primarily serviced by Amtrak (AMTK), facilitating the transport of these materials across a significant distance. This corridor serves as a crucial link for industries reliant on plastic manufacturing, enhancing supply chain efficiency. Notably, the route includes key interchanges with freight carriers, allowing for seamless integration into broader logistics networks.

Per-Leg Tariff Breakdown

Segment Carrier Miles Line-Haul Fuel Surcharge Total
Starting segment BNSF 1,563 $7,832 $969 $8,801
Short-line carrier XXXX (short-line) 105 $526 $65 $591
Short-line carrier OTVR (short-line) 55 $500 $34 $534
Short-line carrier NLR (short-line) 8 $500 $5 $505
Middle segment 1 UP 359 $1,798 $251 $2,049
Short-line carrier WSOR (short-line) 42 $500 $30 $530
Middle segment 2 NS 829 $4,153 $646 $4,800
Short-line carrier NJT (short-line) 15 $500 $12 $512
Short-line carrier CSAO (short-line) 14 $500 $11 $511
Short-line carrier RJCL (short-line) 12 $500 $9 $509
Short-line carrier LI (short-line) 11 $500 $9 $509
Short-line carrier NYNJ (short-line) 5 $500 $4 $504
Ending segment CSXT 4 $1,200 $2 $1,202
Short-line carrier AMTK (short-line) 2 $500 $1 $501
Interchange fee (2 interchanges) $500
Estimated Tariff Total 3,024 $20,009 $2,048 $22,557

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 plastic pellets and other bulk commodities.

Comparable Lanes

Other plastic pellets corridors near this route.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to ship plastic pellets by rail from Seattle to Manhattan?

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 Seattle to Manhattan rail move?

Each Class I publishes a mileage-based fuel surcharge (FSC) tied to the EIA highway-diesel fuel index. AMTK 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 plastic pellets moves?

Yes. We coordinate plastic pellets 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?

Plastic Pellets typically moves in covered hopper 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 Seattle-Manhattan corridor?

At 3,024 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.