CentrePort to break ground on new Manitoba rail park

CentrePort Canada of Winnipeg, Manitoba, will soon break ground on a new rail park at Manitoba's inland port now that a significant anchor, BroadGrain Commodities Inc., has signed on as a tenant.

BroadGrain unveiled plans to build a new bulk grain export and transloading operation and bean-processing facility on 29 acres at the park, according to a CentrePort press release. The project is anticipated to cost up to $25 million (Canadian dollars).

The company's operation at the rail park will include loading 150-car unit trains with Manitoba commodities including wheat, canola, soybeans, corn and specialty crops. The new campus facility will include terminal storage, transloading and processing capacity.

BroadGrain's plan will trigger the construction of Phase I of the new park. CentrePort is investing $2.4 million to build the lead track and switches off the Canadian Pacific mainline (CP's Carberry Subdivision), which will connect to BroadGrain's dedicated track. CentrePort will own the lead track and switches, which also will service additional projects as the rail park develops.

The Province of Manitoba will provide tax incremental financing revenue from the Community Revitalization Fund to help pay for construction of rail leads and switches.

CentrePort Canada is Manitoba’s 20,000-acre inland port and foreign trade zone. The new rail park is being built on 700 acres located south of the CP mainline and west of CentrePort Canada Way.