CALGARY, Alta. — CN Rail is increasing storage fees at its Western Canadian terminals to improve the flow of containers.

The company recently announced short-term storage has become longer term and is having an impact on the smooth flow of containers for tendered rail movements. While the railways says it has expanded a number of its Western Canadian terminals to handle increased growth, it also says "to protect the long term handling capacity of these facilities, containers arriving or departing these terminals must dwell for a minimum period of time."

As of Jan. 2, 2006 CN says it will no longer store empty containers at its Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary or Saskatoon terminals. Meanwhile, a new fee structure has been set for Western Canadian terminals effective Aug. 1.

The new fees include an ingate fee of $40 for any container being returned to its terminal for the purpose of storage. Empty containers arriving at CN’s western terminals will be charged a daily storage fee of $4 per container per day. And inventory limits will be established for each steamship line wishing to store empty containers at Western Canadian intermodal terminals.