CN is launching its new inland distribution terminal in New Richmond, WI. The new multipurpose facility will include an automotive compound for finished vehicles, and an intermodal terminal to serve intermodal shippers and receivers in the metropolitan area of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, MN.
Opening March 1, 2021, the New Richmond, WI, terminal will provide direct CN Intermodal service to the Twin Cities market. This new service will enable customers to better serve the large consumer market of Minneapolis and Saint Paul and provides them with an alternative shipping option to this 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 automotive and finished consumer goods, grain, soybean, as well as forest products.
“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," says Bruce Abbe, strategic advisor for Trade & Transportation, Specialty Soya & Grains Alliance. "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," he continues. "We are hopeful this new facility will further solidify the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin as a major regional transportation logistics hub.”
CN’s Presence in Wisconsin:
- Capital investments: approximately $970 million in the last five years; $100 million in 2020
- Employees: approximately 1,413
- Railroad route miles operated: 1,428
- Community partnerships: $165,000 in 2019
- Local spending: $240 million in 2019
- Cash taxes paid: $21 million in 2019