Train traffic increased

FORT FRANCES—Whether they notice while having to wait more often at crossings or they just to like keep tabs as railroad enthusiasts, area residents will see more trains coming down the tracks here from now on, CN confirmed Tuesday.
“The opening of the Port of Prince Rupert has created a demand for six additional trains per week between Prince Rupert and Chicago,” said CN spokesperson Kevin Franchuk, clarifying that means three trains in each direction per week.
Two of the new trains already have passed through Fort Frances in the past week.
The Port of Prince Rupert container terminal in British Columbia welcomed its first ship Oct. 31. Phase One of the terminal’s operation will see the port handling up to 500,000 20-foot containers annually.
“What that means is, as traffic to the Port of Prince Rupert increases, we’ll add more trains as necessary,” said Franchuk. “But right now, that means six additional trains per week, three in each direction.”
Franchuk added that, on average and including the new ones, 16 trains pass through Fort Frances each day.
CN opened the Port of Prince Rupert container terminal back in September in partnership with Maher Terminals, the Prince Rupert Port Authority, and the B.C. and Canadian governments.
Thanks to the new terminal, “CN is now positioned to provide shippers with a seamless door-to-door transportation solution, and to ensure the safe and secure flow of goods throughout the North American continent,” James M. Foote, CN executive vice-president of sales and marketing, said in a press release.
“CN, in partnership with the port authority and Maher Terminals, will offer the marketplace the fastest, most efficient, and most cost-effective routing for Asian traffic destined to and from the interior of North America, including the cities of Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, and Memphis,” he added.
As the closest port to Asia by up to 58 hours of sailing time compared to any other West Coast port in North America, Prince Rupert gives shippers roughly one extra round-trip voyage per year.
“CN continues to invest in its western Canadian network, which benefits Canada’s Pacific Gateway,” Foote continued.
“These improvements include upgrades to rail traffic control systems west of Prince George and extended sidings that will increase capacity in the corridor from Prince Rupert through to Memphis.”
CN also has upgraded tunnels and bridges, built new intermodal terminals in Prince George and Edmonton, acquired 2,250 platform cars and 50 new state-of-the-art locomotives specifically to serve its new venture.
(Fort Frances Times)