A new inland port is being constructed in southern Manitoba.

Mid Canada Transload Services Ltd has started construction on a new rail siding and industrial park located along Highway 75, one mile south of Letellier and about seven miles north of the US border.

The site will have daily rail service to and from the United States and Mexico with access to both the CN and BNSF railways.

The concept is the idea of Real Tetrault, CEO and President of Emerson Milling Inc., located at Emerson, MB. He says the plan is to build a mile of track on the site, with intentions to add another additional track in the next year or two. The siding will hold 70 cars to start, with future expansion to add capacity for another 50.

"Our plan is to service the agricultural industry, mainly, number one," said Tetrault. "We want to do a lot of the one to five to ten cars that are going to customers in the US and Mexico. We also want to transload/offload other products that are coming into Manitoba or Saskatchewan. I think we can service eastern Saskatchewan quite well from this location."

He notes that any product that travels more than 10 hours by truck is more cost effective when shipped by rail.

The site is located along Highway 75, 1 mile south of Letellier and about 7 miles north of the US border

 

Manitoba’s Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen welcomed the new investment.

"Cross-border trade is vital to the growth and prosperity of Manitoba’s economy," said Cullen.  "This development is strategically positioned with direct links to international markets.  Manitoba producers, processors and small and mid-size shippers will benefit from the opportunities this new inland port will provide."  

Tetrault explains that the company also wants to focus on Identity Preserved grain shipments, which he says are currently not looked after by the large elevators.

"Identity Preserved (IP) will be, I think, one of the markets of the future," explained Tetrault. "More and more consumers are asking where there food is produced, how it's produced, what chemicals were used...Our plan is to do a lot of IP products going to milling and processing plants that require that for their consumers...I think this is something that a small company like ours can do, and I think there's an opportunity there for us and for the producers as well."

Emerson Milling will be one of the first companies to come onto the 250-acre site, with plans to construct a new processing plant over the next year or two. The 30-year-old company, currently located on the east side of the Red River, dehulls oats and ships about 10 railcars per week into the US and Mexico. The company is now loading its cars at a site in Letellier. Tetrault expressed frustration with railways, noting they've become more difficult to deal with over the years, which is why they decided to construct their own loading site.

He says Mid Canada Transload Services is not in competition with the 100-car elevators, but wants to offer producers and other small companies an opportunity to ship by rail.

"If other companies want to come in here and build something to use this park, we will either sell them land or lease them some land. We'll provide services. We'll even build a track to their siding if required."

Emerson Milling currently employees 20 people and Tetrault says it's possible they could hire another 10 employees once the new site is developed. The eventual plan is to move the entire facility onto the new site south of Letellier.

Mid Canada Transload Services, according to Tetrault, will be one of the largest privately owned inland ports in Manitoba.

He's hoping to see the site operational later this fall.