[dowlingm]

If southern Ontario construction could put its shoulder to the mass timber wheel, maybe that could put some wood TEUs back on the rails to replace the decline of paper? I believe Element5 in St Thomas is rail connected but the HamSpec article is paywalled

 

[crs1026]

If southern Ontario construction could put its shoulder to the mass timber wheel, maybe that could put some wood TEUs back on the rails to replace the decline of paper? I believe Element5 in St Thomas is rail connected but the HamSpec article is paywalled

These things are complicated. I know a busy lumber yard that recently rebuilt its siding in expectation of continuing rail service, only to have the railway offer a container based, truck delivered service at a price they couldn't decline. The back story being, the railway had an ongoing need to backhaul empty containers on the same line. By filling them with lumber, they could derive revenue from the backhaul, while sharing the savings (no bulkhead flat car utilization) with the customer.

Maybe if the container flow changes, they will go back to carload deliveries.

- Paul

 

[just east of the creek]

These things are complicated. I know a busy lumber yard that recently rebuilt its siding in expectation of continuing rail service, only to have the railway offer a container based, truck delivered service at a price they couldn't decline. The back story being, the railway had an ongoing need to backhaul empty containers on the same line. By filling them with lumber, they could derive revenue from the backhaul, while sharing the savings (no bulkhead flat car utilization) with the customer.

Maybe if the container flow changes, they will go back to carload deliveries.

- Paul

Last Mile service? Sounds like someone was using their nugget to good use. There are some reports out of the USA stating that long haul trucking is loosing out to more competitive rail rates and service,. I am not sure how validated those claims are, but it is interesting all the same. I have long thought that rail could do far more to carry truckload freight currently hauled over routes 6 hours of more in duration - West GTA to Montreal, Moncton for example. Especially with advances in technology and handling equipment. Perhaps this has been quietly happening?

 

[Allandale25]