Port of Vancouver USA opens new rail entrance for freight

The Port of Vancouver USA and its partners have concluded the $30m Trench rail project, which created a new entrance designed to help trains move goods flow from regional businesses more easily into out of the port.

Trench is a major part of the port’s $275m West Vancouver Freight Access (WVFA) project, which helps reduce regional rail congestion by up to 40%, ensuring businesses along the West Coast and between Portland, Oregon and Chicago can effectively move products from source to market.

The opening was conducted by port officials, US Senator Maria Cantwell and representatives from the offices of US Senator Patty Murray, US Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler and governor of Washington Jay Inlsee.

“Everyone speaking today and many in the audience played a huge part in realising this project.”

Port of Vancouver USA CEO Todd Coleman said: “Everyone speaking today and many in the audience played a huge part in realising this project.

“Cantwell’s support of freight to Senator Murray’s hard work on the TIGER grant programme, and all those who provided funding for this project.”

The project, which was completed $8m under budget and ahead of schedule, was designed to eliminate conflicts between trains entering the port.

It triples the port’s rail capacity, allowing tenants to efficiently move products such as grain, steel, Subaru vehicles and wind-energy components.

The complete freight access project is scheduled to be completed in 2017, about a year ahead of schedule and $50m under original estimates.