The Agriculture Transportation Coalition based in Washington, DC is advocating for cheaper rail service to help US West Coast ports and agricultural exporters reverse lost market share and increase competitiveness. Citing cheaper and faster rail service offered by Canadian railways as one of the key reasons for lower volumes at US west coast ports, executive director Peter Friedmann is calling for BNSF and Union Pacific to offer more competitive services. BNSF and Union Pacific have increased the number of transload facilities in recent years to expedite the export shipments via west coast ports.