New railroad in Ranier, Minnesota

Source: Supply Chain Digital

Date :8/1/2007 10:50:21 AM

Koochiching Economic Development Authority announces the development of a new Canadian National facility in northern Minnesota.

The $5 million project will include the construction of a new railroad track and customs facility allowing CN to expedite incoming freight at the country's second busiest port of entry.

Plans for a new Canadian National customs facility and railroad siding are underway in Minnesota's borderland. The facility will be developed on 10 acres adjacent to the Koochiching County's Foreign Trade Zone and business park near the port of Ranier. This increased presence at the busy port is a boon to CN, a company that achieves over 50% of its revenue from US domestic and cross border traffic. The port of Ranier manages the second highest volume of rail traffic in the United States, after Port Huron, Michigan and followed by Laredo, Texas.

Koochiching County's Foreign Trade Zone and Business Park provide a strategic location for CN's $5 million project. Not only will the facility play an important role in allowing the railroad to manage freight more quickly and efficiently, it is also being viewed as a big win for local economic development. "Our hope is that this opens the door to more opportunities involving rail and the Foreign Trade Zone," says Paul Nevanen, director of the Koochiching Economic Development Authority, the organization that has worked for over five years to position itself for a rail project.

In addition to providing increased capabilities for CN and a boost for local economic development efforts, the project will have an impact on the state and the region. "This project improves CN's ability to move freight quickly and cost effectively; it's an important investment that will benefit the entire region," says US Representative Jim Oberstar of Minnesota. "CN's rail lines are making it possible to sell Minnesota taconite in the global marketplace, and this expansion can help bring even more Minnesota goods to the world."