CN set to launch New Richmond, Wis., intermodal terminal

Railroad cites SSGA in announcement of facility serving Upper Midwest

Canadian National railroad on Dec. 10 officially announced the launch of its new inland distribution rail terminal in New Richmond, Wis. The new multipurpose facility will include an automotive compound for finished vehicles and an intermodal container terminal to serve intermodal shippers and receivers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.

The terminal is scheduled to open March 1, 2021 and will provide direct CN intermodal service to the Twin Cities market. The new service will enable customers to better serve that large consumer market and provide an alternative shipping option to a growing marketplace. The New Richmond terminal will link shippers to CN’s far-reaching three-coast network and serve a range of import and export industries, including soybeans and grain, as well as automotive and finished consumer goods and forest products.

The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance, including its members based in western Wisconsin, played a role in supporting the development of the new CN intermodal terminal, encouraging support from the railroad, the state of Wisconsin, local government officials and area export shippers.

In a press release announcing the New Richmond facility, CN quoted Bruce Abbe, SSGA’s strategic adviser for trade and transportation:

“CN’s development of the New Richmond facility will provide vital access to containers for agricultural exporters to meet customer demand in Europe and Asia,” Abbe said. “Competitive container shipping is vital for American agriculture to serve the growing global consumer market for high value, specialized grain, soy and food ingredients. Intermodal rail service also offers the additional environmental and transportation cost reduction benefit of helping reduce long distance highway truck traffic that now is extensively hauling inbound international container freight from Chicago to the Twin Cities. We are hopeful this new facility will further solidify the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin as a major regional transportation logistics hub.”

According to the release CN’s presence in Wisconsin includes:

• Capital investments of approximately $970 million in the last five years, including $100 million in 2020
• Approximately 1,413 employees
• 1,428 railroad route miles operated
• Community partnerships totaling $165,000 in 2019
• Local spending of $240 million in 2019
• $21 million in cash taxes paid in 2019

“CN’s new intermodal terminal in New Richmond will be a very important asset for our state’s exporters, particularly farmers, hardwoods producers and manufacturers based in northern and western Wisconsin,” said Craig Thompson, Wisconsin Department of Transportation secretary-designee. “Our Freight Advisory Committee identified intermodal transportation as their top priority, and I want to thank everyone who worked together toward this goal.”

See CN’s full announcement here.