[Saint John] Port Development

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by Ottawa

It makes sense when you consider they expect to 5X+ the port's intermodal output. Simultaneous movement of trains in both directions is absolutely necessary. I did a visual check of the bridge over the throughway and it looks like it was built for double track so, phew!

I guess the government coin NBSR got in May 2022 was partly to share the cost of this.

I do wonder how all of this will impact the movement of people around the city, isn't the only way in and out for trains to go through the level crossing at Simms Corner? Surely there will be some vocal opposition if trains start to travel that much more frequently through that already-contentious intersection.

[Ottawa]

Originally Posted by darkharbour

I do wonder how all of this will impact the movement of people around the city, isn't the only way in and out for trains to go through the level crossing at Simms Corner? Surely there will be some vocal opposition if trains start to travel that much more frequently through that already-contentious intersection.

There are multiple solutions for that. Previous suggested solutions have all been tossed because people prefer to work with what exists. Not even a traffic circle made the cut even though there is scads of space for it. Traffic lights could have been incorporated a long time ago but weren't. Look at it overhead and it is a simple four corner intersection.

I don't think a double track is going to change much. It will mean a few more trains each day. It's not going to be endless trains back and forth. There are larger cities that have entire yards in urban congestion and they work fine. When and if the time does come, I think it might be lowering the tracks below grade, raising the road slightly, and installing a bridge/s. But it will mean a more permanent configuration for that intersection, since further changes will be that much more complicated afterwards.

It's fully ensconced in both the "we'll cross that bridge when we get to it" and "you'll never satisfy everybody" categories.

[Ottawa]

Map courtesy of Railway Association of Canada
https://rac.jmaponline.net/canadianrailatlas/


There was some confusion about the operation of Island Yard that I don't think got clarified properly. The Railway Association of Canada has marked Island Yard as being managed by NBSR. The dividing line on the above map is ~ milepost 83.5. That puts it behind 621 Rothesay Ave, east of the McAllister Dr and Rothesay Ave. intersection. I don't think this is that important as the majority of the rolling stock in Island Yard probably goes to CN anyway. Maybe this will revert back to CN at the end of the lease period. I have no knowledge of the terms of the lease. If anybody has further clarification, that information is always welcome.

[MonctonianSentinel01]

If you go down Walsh's Road and look East you can see the sign where CN and NBSR limits meet.

I've marked it on the map.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.31742...!1e4?entry=ttu

PS: Looks like the mark didn't carry over but you can see it on the left side of the track. Behind 617 Rothesay Avenue.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by Ottawa

Map courtesy of Railway Association of Canada
https://rac.jmaponline.net/canadianrailatlas/


There was some confusion about the operation of Island Yard that I don't think got clarified properly. The Railway Association of Canada has marked Island Yard as being managed by NBSR. The dividing line on the above map is ~ milepost 83.5. That puts it behind 621 Rothesay Ave, east of the McAllister Dr and Rothesay Ave. intersection. I don't think this is that important as the majority of the rolling stock in Island Yard probably goes to CN anyway. Maybe this will revert back to CN at the end of the lease period. I have no knowledge of the terms of the lease. If anybody has further clarification, that information is always welcome.

In 2002 the yard was leased to NBSR for 10 years with the expectation JDI would ship their products on it (forestry/petroleum products/wallboard). Obviously it’s been extended since 2012 but don’t know anything about the terms.

[JakeNB]

Interesting story in AllNB re increasing potash shipments through the port. Expectation is that 200-300k tons/month going forward. This compares with approx 105k average in 2022. Lots more heavy trains going through the KV.

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by JakeNB

Interesting story in AllNB re increasing potash shipments through the port. Expectation is that 200-300k tons/month going forward. This compares with approx 105k average in 2022. Lots more heavy trains going through the KV.

A couple years back I posted a 2015-ish plan to add trackage on infill in the bay south of the causeway and east of/below Crown, to the potash terminal. Can't find it now. I wonder what volume of potash would justify revisiting those.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by JakeNB

Interesting story in AllNB re increasing potash shipments through the port. Expectation is that 200-300k tons/month going forward. This compares with approx 105k average in 2022. Lots more heavy trains going through the KV.

Trains seem almost constant and they arrive 3:00 a.m.’ish. Definitely noticed huge increase in ships

[RR Drummer]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Trains seem almost constant and they arrive 3:00 a.m.’ish. Definitely noticed huge increase in ships

Agreed, I have noticed same thing. It’s constant.