Thought I would post in a new thread. I think some folks have conflicting conclusions with this study that were posted in the FEC Intermodal thread (doesn't mean the conclusions are wrong, just conflicting) In this respect it is probably better to start another thread related specifically to Wisconsin and read what WisDOT has to say on the subject via their study and perhaps get another opinion on the subject?
https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/doing-bus/freight/fac/report2019.pdf
The report (2019) gives a good overall view of all US and Canada container ports. I was suprised to learn that Wisconsin has no general intermodal yards (other than a couple of small specialized operations) and must rely on facilities in Chicago and MSP.
The problem for Wisconsin intermodal is that unless it is going to Western Canada or the Pacific Northwest, it has to wade through the morass of Chicago.
Loads going to Denver, California, Texas or anywhere in the south and east would be delayed by the morass of getting through Chicago.
So most intermodal in the State is drayed to Chicago to start its journey. Or inbound loads are drayed out of Chicago.
The vast majority of economic activity in Wisconsin occurs in a rough triangle from Green Bay at the top to Beloit on one side of the base and Kenosha on the other side of the base.
From a shipping standpoint it doesn't pay to run IM trains through Chicago to that portion of Wisconsin.
Westbound, IM can hitch a ride on CP or CN from smaller terminals that they have, but BN for the most part bypasses the economic centers of WI, so if a shipper has something coming from or going to Seattle or Portland, it gets drayed to or from Minneapolis.
From an IM standpoint, because of Lake Michigan, Chicago and the Mississippi River, which pretty much dictated rail routes to the Northwest, WI and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are pretty much a virtual island.
kgbw49The problem for Wisconsin intermodal is that unless it is going to Western Canada or the Pacific Northwest, it has to wade through the morass of Chicago.
They are trying to change that I am going to guess eventually they will talk with CP about it. I don't know what they are going to do but WisDOT has a good working relationship with CP.
CMStPnPThey are trying to change that I am going to guess eventually they will talk with CP about it. I don't know what they are going to do but WisDOT has a good working relationship with CP.
Well, where's it going to go? From Milwaukee they either go to the northwest (Canada or US) or they go through Chicago.
greyhoundsWell, where's it going to go? From Milwaukee they either go to the northwest (Canada or US) or they go through Chicago.
Which is what I thought about passenger trains but then along came the Milwaukee's Southwest Limited's Milwaukee section which bypassed Chicago entirely.
CMStPnPWhich is what I thought about passenger trains but then along came the Milwaukee's Southwest Limited's Milwaukee section which bypassed Chicago entirely. Add Quote to
That route is not there anymore.
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