UP constructing grain transload terminal near Chicago

Union Pacific Railroad is building a state-of-the-art grain transload facility within its Global IV intermodal terminal in Joliet, Illinois.

The UP Global IV Transload facility will be managed by JCT, a 50-50 joint venture between Consolidated Grain and Barge Co. and Gavilon Grain LLC.

Construction began this month and completion is anticipated by fourth-quarter 2021. Once fully operational, the terminal will have the capacity to process 50,000 containers per year, UP officials said in a press release.

UP Global IV Transload will be open to all Midwest agricultural producers and processors, expanding connection opportunities to both empty containers and UPs extensive West Coast port terminal network. Regional producers and processors will be able to transport their product by truck to Global IV, where it will be transloaded into containers for shipment by rail to West Coast ports, then loaded onto ocean carriers and shipped to overseas markets.

The program will offer greater access to containers for exporters and faster turnaround times for ocean carriers, UP officials said.

"This facility will support the regional agriculture economy by providing reduced supply-chain costs and efficient loading support for exporting grain products, whole grains and oilseeds," said Kari Kirchhoefer, UP's vice president of marketing and sales premium. "By co-locating on site at G4, we create greater efficiencies within the supply chain."