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Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark
I'm curious on how an inland terminal would work as well. I'm actually thinking of the configuration which would allow the containers to be moved to and from Halterm by rail to a depot where they would be distributed to and from trucks as required. Of all the potential options, it seems like the best way to get container traffic out of the city, but you're right in that it would add an extra step in getting containers to the trucks. I'm not sure that it would result in extra mileage for the trucks, though, as I don't imagine too many containers are loaded or unloaded downtown. I would think most of that would link up quite well with a depot near a major highway to bring the containers to and from other parts of Nova Scotia, NB, PEI, and NL.
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I was thinking that it would make shipping from an inland terminal more feasible for trucks and therefore create competition for CN. Trucks could probably save a couple of hours, or more, by picking up containers at an inland terminal versus Halterm and then carry them directly to places like Quebec, Maine, and Massachusetts. So it would create more competition for CN. Trucks could get containers to such relatively closeby destinations within a day's drive versus CN hauling them to Toronto or Montreal and then off-loading them onto trucks. So will it be realistic to expect CN to offer competitive rates to an inland terminal if they lose longer-haul traffic.