PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — CN Rail cut the ribbon this week on its new $20-million intermodal and distribution terminal in Prince George. The grand opening comes just weeks before the much-anticipated opening of the Fairview container terminal in Prince Rupert.

The new rail hub is now ready to handle containers and generate backhaul traffic meant for Asian markets via the new port. The first container ship, operated by Shanghai-based Cosco Container Lines Americas Inc., is expected to arrive in Prince Rupert on Oct. 31.

” The Port of Prince Rupert is the closest port to Asia by up to 58 hours of sailing time compared to other west coast port in North America. CN will transport containers between the port and the principal centers of the U.S. Midwest, South and central Canada via its network spanning Canada and mid-America,” said Senior Vice President of Western Region, Jim Vena, in a press release.

Prince George, which is situated 500 miles east of Prince Rupert, is in close proximity to British Columbia’s large fibre reserves and other natural resources. It is also CN’s divisional headquarters and main operations center in northern B.C. The Prince George Distribution Center has an 84,000 square-foot warehouse and 10 acres of outside storage.

The rail terminal has the capacity to handle 25,000 forty-foot containers annually.