Columbia Grain to Expand Montana Facility for Shuttle Trains

[Limitedclear]

Shipper to expand Montana grain exporting facility for BNSF shuttle trains

BNSF Railway Co. recently reached an agreement with Columbia Grain Inc. under which the shipper will expand its Carter, Mont., grain exporting facility to accommodate 110-car shuttle trains. To be completed in third-quarter 2007, the project will more than double that facility's current 52-car capacity.

In 2004, BNSF announced plans to maintain its Great Falls-to-Fort Benton line - which is adjacent to the Carter facility - to operate 110-car shuttle trains. The Class I now will serve 13 shuttle loading facilities in Montana.

"This [deal] will provide the benefits of shuttle-train service to even more Montana farmers and reinforces our commitment to the Fort Benton line," said Kevin Kaufman, BNSF group vice president-agricultural products, in a prepared statement.

[Datafever]

If I understand the story correctly, CGI is covering the costs of expansion - is that correct?