Dear editor,

RAIL is a Milton, Ont.-based grassroots organization formed by a group of residents having serious concerns with the resulting effects of Canadian National (CN) Railway’s proposed intermodal terminal in Milton, a location that closely borders both Burlington and Oakville.

Over 2,000 acres of agricultural land in southwest Milton are being threatened by CN’s proposal to construct a 450-acre intermodal terminal.

People often state “Let’s get the trucks off the road and onto rail.” But, how do they think the containers move to and from the rail yard? If CN places its intermodal terminal in the proposed area, that’s where the intermodal trucks have to go – the truck drivers have no choice. A rail intermodal terminal will add thousands of trucks to our local roads and major highways.

RAIL believes that the proposed intermodal terminal does not belong in Halton, especially since the end user is located in Toronto, 70 km away. And how does one think the containers from the intermodal yard get to this end user 70 km away in Toronto? These containers get there by truck.

RAIL would like to inform David Collenette that if CN’s proposed intermodal terminal is developed in Milton, our community will be faced with more high-speed freight trains and thousands of transport trucks. A shift from truck to rail is contradictory as rail involves using trucks. RAIL feels that the federal political parties should take a closer look at the negative impact of intermodal terminals on surrounding communities.

Sandra Campbell and Rita Post

Milton, Ont.