CN increases Brampton Intermodal Terminal capacity

Canadian National has announced a series of capacity improvements to accommodate growing container volumes at its Brampton Intermodal Terminal and to ensure a high level of service for intermodal customers across its system. BIT, located in the prime logistics area of Greater Toronto, is Canada's largest rail intermodal terminal and a key component in CN's distribution network, almost 60 percent of the railway's system-wide intermodal business touches the terminal. CN's rail intermodal traffic consists primarily of containerized cargos moving in cooperation with other transportation modes. Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer of CN, said, "Intermodal is one of CN's fastest-growing business segments. We are investing in new track, equipment and other infrastructure improvements at BIT to take our intermodal service offering to the next level in efficiently distributing growing overseas container traffic reaching our network over Canadian ports as well as rising domestic intermodal shipments across Canada. These investments will increase supply chain efficiencies for our customers and help them grow their businesses. CN's BIT improvements include: - The installation of new track and extension of existing track to increase rail capacity by close to 15 per cent; - Creation of approximately 25 percent more ground space for international containers by staging CN containers offsite; - Purchasing five new cranes in 2011, after the acquisition of five new ones last fall and - Increasing the labor force by about 10 percent in 2011. BIT's 2011 intermodal volumes through the end of April increased by 12 percent over figures for the comparable period of 2010. Mongeau said, "CN's capacity improvements at BIT reflect our strategic agenda of operational and service excellence. By anticipating our customers' transportation needs, our innovation and supply chain collaboration focus can help them expand profitably and compete more effectively."