Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer, said: "CN is eager to break ground for the new logistics park, which will provide seamless transportation solutions to rail customers moving products and commodities into and out of Calgary, one of the fastest growing cities in North America and a key logistics hub for consumer and industrial goods markets in southern Alberta."
The 680-acre logistics park in Conrich, Alta., located in Rocky View County northeast of Calgary, will feature:
- A state-of-the-art intermodal terminal for containerized goods moving between rail and truck, with ample room for customers to build on-site distribution centres that will eliminate costly handling and drayage cost to move product to other facilities;
- More than two million square feet of warehousing capacity, including a multi-commodity rail-to-truck transload and warehouse facility, and
- Dimensional shipment and heavy container handling capacity.
CN also plans to have an automotive compound for regional vehicle distribution ready during 2013, and to add a liquid and dry-bulk transload and distribution facility to the logistics park at a later date.
CN expects to complete construction of the logistics park by the end of 2012, when it will transfer intermodal activities and Calgary personnel to the new facility. Operations will start in early 2013.
The new facility, with ready access to Stoney Trail and other major roadways including the Trans Canada Highway, is situated on Twp Road 250/McKnight Boulevard and is just 10 kilometres from Calgary International Airport.
CN provides competitive rail transit times to and from Calgary from eastern and Western Canada, including the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, B.C., and direct access to markets in the United States.
"We are thrilled with the news of this new facility and with the collaborative partnership we have formed with CN," said Rolly Ashdown, Rocky View County Reeve. "The Logistics Park is a great addition to Rocky View County and the region, helping to support our goal of a healthy and diversified economy. CN's investment in our community demonstrates the region's capacity to attract business investment due to our wide range of rural and urban amenities."
Mongeau said: "The Calgary Logistics Park is part of CN's plan to build similar multi-modal facilities across our network at key distribution nodes to handle a variety of goods and commodities. Our goal is to reduce logistics costs for our customers through highly efficient materials handling, transportation and distribution processes. With this approach, CN can help its customers grow, enhance the economic development of the communities we serve, and position the railway CN for greater traffic growth."
