CN Railway is building a new intermodal facility at its Taschereau Yard in Montreal as part of a $47-million consolidation of its terminals.

The consolidation, scheduled for completion by year-end 2001, will permit CN to accommodate 30 per cent more intermodal traffic at its Montreal hub, the company says.

Intermodal is CN’s fastest-growing business segment, with volumes last year rising by 13 per cent, to more than 1.1 million units.

Under the terminal consolidation plan, CN’s Montreal intermodal operations will move from Turcot Yard near the city’s inner core to Taschereau Yard, the railroad’s major switching yard for carload freight in the Montreal region.

The other two major intermodal projects underway are a recently announced $40-million facility in Milton, Ont., west of Toronto, and an additional $23-million terminal to open in Edmonton this fall.

Alberta has increased GVW for tridems and B-trains

In an effort to further harmonize Canadian weights and dimensions, Alberta Transportation has increased the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of medium spread tridems and B-trains.

The allowances will increase from 23,000 kg to 24,000 kg per tridem axle, with a spread between 3.0 and 3.6 metres. Meanwhile, the GVW for B-trains increases from 62,500 kg to 63,500 kg, bringing Alberta’s regulations in line with those of British Columbia, much to the delight of the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA).

“We’ve been dealing with the government about this for some time,” says AMTA general manager Al Smythe. “There are two reasons we wanted this. One, it maximizes our efficiency, and two, B.C.’s at 63,500 kg already so if we were travelling to or from B.C. we had to load to 62,500 kg or when we were in Alberta we would be illegal.”

The regulations now allow the same weight loads on narrow tridems as are currently permitted on wide spread axles, reducing the demand for the wide spread axles, which cause more infrastructure damage.

The changes, which apply only to primary and secondary highways, came into effect Apr. 1.

OTA strikes deal for members using New York toll roads

The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) has secured a deal with the New York Motor Truck Association (NYMTA) which will allow its members to save money on toll roads.

The agreement sees OTA receive discounts through a pact between the NYMTA and the New York State Thruway Authority.

The OTA says the benefits of the agreement include not only savings on tolls, but also “improved record keeping and post-pay convenience.”

To participate in the program, an OTA member must sign a Participation Agreement with the NYMTA.

For further information or to apply for the program, contact the OTA’s Rene Wingfield at 416-249-7401.