Maersk Lines is introducing major reforms to its North American operation, cutting rail routes and changing the way it handles intermodal cargo to reduce escalating costs.

The world's largest shipping line said the "streamlining" was prompted by the vast US trade imbalance, and may result in cutting inland delivery points when export volumes are insufficient to recover round-trip costs.

Maersk is expected to scrap service to 18 inland destinations in North America, including Denver, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, Calgary, Edmonton and Alberta, as well as cease usage of 66 rail ramps. Measures will also be implemented to slash the number of rail routes and link ports to specific service areas, cutting the present number of rail entries from 250,000 to 50,000.

"Container shipping in the US and Canada has changed in a fundamental way," a Maersk statement said.

But Maersk aims to improve transit times, expand port coverage and upgrade reliability by using less complex and better managed routes.

The company also announced changes affecting services between North America, the Middle East and Asia after March.

Maersk said its MECL1 service from Karachi, Pakistan to North America will call at Newark, New Jersey, every Monday via its direct Pakistan-USA service. Vessels deployed on the service will take 18 days to arrive in Newark from the Indian port of Nhava Sheva.

The company is also amending the port rotation for its US east coast services to provide faster service to core markets on north to south routes.

The first westbound sailing will be undertaken by the Maersk Missouri. The ship is expected to arrive in Karachi on March 12. The first sailing eastbound by the Maersk Missouri, is scheduled to arrive in Newark on April 2.

The MECL2 is a direct service from Chennai/Madras, India to the US. Maersk will use Chennai/Madras as a transhipment hub for cargo to and from Visakhapatnam, Calcutta/Haldia and Bangladesh. Additional South Atlantic port coverage includes Savannah, Georgia, as a direct service.

The port rotation for the US east coast service that runs south to north is being enhanced to offer improved service to key US ports with faster transit times to and from Bangladesh, south and east India, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, a company statement said. Additionally, service reliability will be boosted during the monsoon season through an "additional buffer" in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent

The first westbound sailing will be made by the Maersk Djibouti. The vessel is expected to arrive in Chennai on March 16. The first sailing eastbound will again deploy the Maersk Djibouti, which is scheduled to arrive in Savannah on April 10.