Pan Am Railways, Port Saint John to offer new intermodal service

Pan Am Railways and DP World have agreed to form a new direct intermodal service connecting the Boston market to Port Saint John in New Brunswick, Canada.

The new agreement provides a "viable alternative" to customers in the New England area, said officials representing DP World, the port's terminal operator. Port Saint John provides connections to more than 500 international destinations.

The intermodal service from the port to the Boston market will be provided via the inland container terminal at Ayer, Massachusetts, said Pan Am Railways Executive Vice President Michael Bostwick.

"We will provide value to importers and exporters via an alternate gateway into the large consumer markets around Boston and central New England that reduces congestion on the highways," said Bostwick. "As the vessel calls at the port increase, we will be there to grow our service offerings and train capacity to match those needs."

DP World's strategy includes extending the port's market through intermodal connections in Canada and the United States, said DP World Saint John General Manager Curtis Doiron.

"The natural geographic advantage of Port Saint John, being located close to the U.S. border, is now enhanced by this new PanAm service into the New England marketplace," said Doiron. "Importers and exporters seeking to move goods to and from major centers in the North East now have an option that will get them there faster and move over shorter inland distances."