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CN yesterday announced plans to construct an intermodal ramp at its yard in Joliet, Ill., to offer import and export customers better access to numerous Chicago-area distribution centers.

The ramp will accommodate the transfer of containers between rail and truck, and include a grain transloading facility on site to support export opportunities. CN is the only railroad that directly links all three coasts to greater Chicago-area distribution centers, including vessels originating in Europe, Asia and South America, CN officials said in a prepared statement.

In June, CN expects to begin offering daily West Coast service featuring transit times of about 100 hours between the coast and Joliet.

"The Joliet-Will County area of greater Chicago has one of the highest concentrations of distribution centers in the United States," said Jean-Jacques Ruest, CN's executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "With a new intermodal ramp for container traffic at our Joliet Yard, CN will offer importers and exporters improved access to this vital trade hub with the fastest combined ocean and rail transit times to and from Asia via the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, B.C."