Iowa Northern Railway to develop intermodal logistics hub

Iowa Northern Railway Co. (IANR) recently announced it expects to significantly expand its customer base this year.

More than 350 acres are being developed in Manly, Iowa, including the site of a new intermodal logistics hub planned by IANR. Located near three interstates and 16 miles from the Minnesota border, the facility will be known as Upper Midwest Transportation Hub (UMTH). IANR already has built a large rail yard at the UMTH site and a 15,000-foot loop track is under construction.

The hub is expected to provide the region with new logistics and intermodal alternatives to reduce costs to Iowa and Minnesota manufacturers and producers, IANR officials said in a press release. Manly is the location of a significant interchange with Union Pacific Railroad and close to interchanges with Canadian Pacific and CN, they said. In addition, Manly Yard is becoming a major storage and staging yard for frac sand originating in nearby states.

Besides the UMTH, other IANR-served developments are progressing or advancing in Manly:

• Sukup Manufacturing Inc. of Sheffield, Iowa, plans to soon break ground on a new steel distribution center that will handle inbound steel by rail. The facility will be located at Manly Logistics Park L.L.C., a 160-acre commercial development founded by IANR's principals and Halfman Family L.L.C.

• Manly Terminal L.L.C. is expanding volumes of inbound chemicals and outbound agricultural products. A 28-acre parcel of the terminal site will become the initial location for intermodal and container stuffing, primarily for food and agricultural products, with expansion capacity for intermodal and container yard support at Manly Logistics Park.

• A new food grade rail-to-truck transfer building, owned by IANR, now is available for lease at Manly Yard. The building can be adapted to fit specific customer needs and offers daily switching services, multiple rail connections and more than 15 car spots, IANR officials said.