Intermodal Rail
Canadian National Brampton intermodal terminal
Mark Hallman, Director Communications, Media
CN Rail’s Brampton Intermodal Terminal (BIT) is the largest on the company’s North American rail network. In 2007, BIT handled approximately 660,000 intermodal units. Strategically located in Brampton, Ontario, BIT is CN’s intermodal hub for the Greater Toronto Area and Southwestern Ontario, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. BIT transfers between CN train and truck (both independent and CN managed) containers (import and domestic) or highway trailers arriving from or destined to: key ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Halifax and Montréal; major centres in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario and the Western provinces, and key cities in the U.S. along CN’s network, including Chicago, Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans.
CN recently invested $12 million to increase container-handling capacity by one-quarter at the Brampton Intermodal Terminal. Investment in the Continental Gateway will help the flow of traffic and make CN even more competitive in moving both Canadian and international goods to markets in the U.S.
Bombardier Transportation
The leader in the rail equipment manufacturing and servicing industry has delivered close to 7,000 vehicles across North America.
Bombardier’s cars are manufactured in Ontario, Quebec, the U.S. and Mexico, and must be delivered to their clients within predetermined deadlines. The manufacturing and multimodal (truck and train) delivery strategy is dependent on customer proximity and requirements, as well as on the ability to deliver within set deadlines and budgets.
Accordingly, Bombardier Transportation recommends orientations to be examined within the framework of the Continental Gateway. Among others, Bombardier Transportation is hoping for a finalized harmonization of interprovincial road transportation regulations (load, size) to reduce transportation costs. In the same manner, the rail equipment manufacturer believes that a developed rail line network specifically for transporting goods could increase flexibility and reduce delivery times. An incentives program for railway shippers could provide quality service to companies that have low volumes or non-standard export goods. Finally, Bombardier Transportation is promoting environmental protection by providing alternative means of transportation that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A more efficient trade corridor will enable Bombardier Transportation to better meet the challenges of the new reality, in which equipment manufacturing and delivery deadlines are increasingly tight.
Canadian Pacific Railway
Denyse Nepveu, Director, Communications and Public Affairs, Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific remains the leading rail services provider to the Port of Montréal, a major year-round east coast gateway that serves Canadian and U.S. Mid-West markets.
Key to the Port of Montréal’s continued growth is the high level of integration between marine, rail and truck modes. This supply chain is one of the most competitive and efficient in North America. In 2007, container traffic between the Port of Montréal to and from various points along the Montréal-Chicago corridor enjoyed another significant increase.
As intermodalism continues to grow, so does the challenge to provide rapid, seamless and secure movement of goods. Government efforts to establish the Ontario-Quebec Continental Gateway and Trade Corridor as a strategic, world-class transportation system supporting international trade is a unique opportunity to further enhance our competitive advantage and, ultimately, our national prosperity.
