[130112.EN.LAN] From The Desk Of Railways Operator : BNSF & CNR

WESTERN American railroad BNSF has commenced a new programme to optimise the supply chains of its intermodal customers such as liner shipping companies, truckers, intermodal marketing companies and beneficial owners of the cargo.

The "Next Generation Intermodal" concept will, according to group vice president of consumer products Steve Branscum, enable users to more accurately assess how intermodal rail services and more specifically the various service options available can be used to improve their total supply chains.

The concept includes the railway operator's "online intermodal advisor" tool that provides shippers with detailed comparisons of shipping options, to maximise use of the service, reports London's Containerisation International, noting that the system promises cost savings and shorter transit times.

Said Mr Branscum: "We believe highlighting this wide range of solutions will encourage shippers to try intermodal in situations they may not have considered before."

BNSF transported eight per cent more intermodal traffic in the first nine months of 2011, compared with the same period a year earlier. Total volumes of container/trailer traffic are expected to grow to 4.5 million units for the whole of last year.

STATE-owned Canadian National Railway (CN) has announced it has completed the merger of three of its American subsidiaries, the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway, the Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway and the Wisconsin Central.

The merger is intended to simplify CN's corporate structure and operations by integrating the railways into the Wisconsin Central, a move approved by the US Surface Transportation Board last April.

Said CN vice president Jim Vena: "A unified workforce will allow better management of crew and more efficient and reliable rail service to customers throughout the region, including those in the Mesabi iron ore range, and beyond."

Source : HKSG, 09.01.12.