CN opens newest intermodal terminal in Chippewa Falls, WI

CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI, Feb. 3, 2012 (CNW) - CN today marked the opening of its newest intermodal terminal at Chippewa Falls in a ribbon-cutting ceremony here. The terminal, located only 100 miles east of Minneapolis/St. Paul, offers Wisconsin and Minnesota customers new supply chain options to ship and receive goods in containers.

"This terminal gives companies in the Upper Midwest direct and efficient single-rail-line access to new North American and global markets via our continental network as well as the ports we serve on the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf coasts," said Jean-Jacques Ruest, CN executive vice-president and chief marketing officer.

"Today we are moving consumer products from world markets to Chippewa Falls, and providing the region growing opportunities to export grain and manufactured goods."

The terminal offers twice weekly train service with fifth morning availability from the west coast for intermodal containers. Located on 8.5 acres of land at CN's Chippewa Falls Yard, the terminal features a 2,500-foot-long intermodal loading and unloading track plus an onsite grain transfer facility.

Since 2001, when CN acquired Wisconsin Central Ltd., CN has invested more than $500 million in rail infrastructure improvements across the state.

"With our commitment to innovation and supply chain collaboration, our goal is to help our customers compete more effectively in their end markets, be they in North America or around the world," Ruest said. "In the years ahead, we see good opportunities to develop new traffic lanes to this facility from a number of ports across our North American network."