Alberta RailNet Inc. and trucking firm Wiebe Transport Inc. on Aug. 28 officially opened an intermodal yard aimed at improving service along the northwest corridor of Alberta and British Columbia, and reaching markets that currently are exclusive to rail or truck.
The 420-mile short line recently delivered the first loads of sodium sulphite to the facility (which were shipped from Pennsylvania) and Wiebe Transport trucked the shipments to Taylor, B.C., for local deliveries.
The companies built a 14-car rail spur adjacent to Wiebe's truck receiving and departure yard in Grande Prairie, Alberta, which they use as a transload center.
"The facility will handle all bulk commodities to and from this area — either railed in and trucked out, or trucked in and railed out," said
Greg Pichette, Alberta RailNet vice president and general manager, in a prepared statement.
Forest-product shipper GP Reload also recently transloaded 5,000 rail cars of freight at the facility.
Source: Progressive Railroading Daily News
