In January, 2012 Canadian National agreed to “collaborate” with WCGroup on the “2012 Joint Projects Initiative” – in reality, a multi-year strategic undertaking to enhance competitiveness throughout the Wisconsin Central Region.
The Joint Projects Initiative is intended to assist the Railroad and shipper stakeholder community, through Wisconsin Central Group, arrive at a common and mutually agreed understanding of the scale of these multi-year Projects — development during 2012, initial implementation 2013 through 2015. This outline is not intended to be exhaustive. Our intent is to enhance and in no way impede shipper-by-shipper efforts to incrementally grow Wisconsin Central market share.
Appropriately expand boxcar fleet to meet demand; increase fleet capacity through asset utilization discipline, velocity and balanced freight lanes.
Identify and create reliable bases for consistent, long-term freight commitment and for investment in modal-shift and growth on WC lines.
Balance first/last mile operations between WC origins/destinations and a distribution-transfer center or centers in the Chicago market area, usingdedicated boxcars to maximize turns.
Optimize WC rail through and to/from connections at the Chicago gateway.
Develop understanding/consensus on balanced freight commitment and other conditions necessary to add and support WC intermodal terminals.
Leverage WI “sealed container” law for WC international traffic via WC intermodal terminals.
Work for “sealed container” payloads for select, domestic WC intermodal.
Connect WC intermodal terminals to the developing North American intermodal rail terminal network, with scheduled, balanced operations.
The competitive urgency is for our freight to have steel wheel intermodal connections to the emerging intermodal network constructed in recent years by CSX and Norfolk Southern. Direct connection for our freight through CSX’s state-of-the-art intermodal hub is an outstanding goal for competitiveness of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Central Region products and jobs in our key markets.
Continue to improve log car investment and return, asset utilization.
Create supply chain visibility from forest and yard to mill (fewer truck miles, fewer empty miles, and fewer emissions through modal shift),relying on visibility and velocity to trump unavoidable imbalances.
Develop agreed standards and optimal practices for moving biomass via rail, hence, increasing competition and value through highest and best use offorest resources.
Encourage export market development; full international weight payloads.
