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Originally Posted by saskdave
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Good stuff sask dave, as are these older messages that I didn't realize were here.
Not sure I agree with the previous speculation that this is a white elephant. There is some sense to having the different transportation modes converge.
However the supporters claims of some kind of revolutionary advantage also seems quite trumped up.
From those older maps, it's evident that China already has countless routes to get products to market without waiting for the Regina GTH...
I guess the spokesperson wanted a big sounding story with international flavor. It's too bad they couldn't have just said something realistic though.
As for Loblaws seeing improvements, let's hope so. The article certainly exposes one of the many ways they've shot themselves in the foot operationally. If the GTH can help them with just one portion of one key process, that might be the change in direction they need to start thinking about the many systemic problems.
But it also highlights that a hub isn't always the best way either. Many smart businesses go direct to market rather than have their products get damaged and aged in a hub system.
It's hard to know how much of the benefit is actually new, and how much of the GTH/Loblaws connection is just backfilling what they have or will be decommissioning in Saskatoon. It's like when any operation opens a new site and boasts creation of 20 new jobs, but neglects to mention the 19 other jobs they'll be terminating shortly after the new place opens.