CN said new supply chain efficiencies have reduced dwell times for European import vehicles handled by CN's Autoport Terminal in Halifax by approximately 25 per cent since implementation last spring.

The Autoport facility - one of the largest import vehicle processing facilities in North America - receives vehicles from ocean-going vessels and transfers them to rail cars for distribution across inland CN Autoport facilities in Canada.

Jean-Jacques Ruest, CN executive vice-president and chief marketing officer, said: "CN Autoport undertook a comprehensive review of supply chain steps to reduce port dwell times and adopted a transit time approach from ship discharge to dealer delivery via our 10 major automotive facilities in Canada. These new processes now help us get our customers' vehicles to market more quickly."

Kevin Agnew, managing director of the Importers Transport Council representing automakers BMW, Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar, Subaru and Suzuki, said: "CN Autoport services have helped our member companies improve the consistency and speed of delivery of vehicles to their Canadian dealer networks."

Al Dunn, purchasing manager of Ford Export & Global Growth Operations, said: "We have selected CN Autoport at Halifax to handle our new Transit Connect (compact panel van) for distribution through Canada because of the port's ideal location for reaching the Canadian market, CN's rail network throughout Canada, and Autoport's reputation for quality and its efficiency in processing vehicles."

Ruest said: "CN is committed to supply chain innovation to help make our automotive customers more competitive and succeed in their markets. CN is working with its partners to become part of a world-class supply chain."

CN Autoport offers a range of services through 15 processing facilities across Canada and the United States. CN handles imported vehicles through the ports of Halifax and Vancouver.