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The state of North Dakota recently contracted Norbridge Inc. to develop a plan for coordinating a container unit-train service for agricultural products moving between Fargo and Minot, and the West Coast.

Under a first phase to be completed in early 2007, Norbridge will define key markets and stakeholders, consult with BNSF Railway Co. and steamship lines, and analyze rail container rates.

“This is an important step in advancing our unified state freight-rail strategy,” said North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven in a prepared statement. “Our goal is to develop and implement a freight-rail strategy to help all of North Dakota’s agricultural producers, processors, manufacturers and other industries move products to world markets.”

Officials from the cities of Minot, Fargo and Bismarck are working with North Dakota Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Commerce representatives to implement a statewide freight-rail plan that calls for sharing westbound intermodal trains and building a transloading/intermodal terminal in Bismarck, which is scheduled to open in June 2007.