Intermodal to Saint John

While the tidal range is impressive, it (still) has not come up as a factor in the development of the port aside for the dredging work that was already completed.

Mr. NHV, OK; no bridge. I picked a poor analogy, but the fact remains that a vessel the size of the "standard" 24000TEU adrift within the proximity of land and other vessels, does not make for a happy ending.

120 was into Greenville Jct. at 20:50 with KCSM 4886, 57 mixed freight (11 loaded autoracks), 8 empty wells, 41 wells/41 containers, CP 8129 (DPU), 9 wells/10 containers, 17 empty wells.

This past week (week 45) saw 120/121 moving 2089 containers. That's the first time over 2000 in a single week in at least the last two years.

Strike of the day:

Wall Street Journal

Fair Use:

OTTAWA—The movement of cargo through Canada’s second-largest seaport halted late Sunday after dockworkers at the Port of Montreal rejected a revised pay offer from employers, heightening stresses on trade as talks aimed at reopening ports on the country’s West Coast faltered.

The Maritime Employers Association, which represents companies operating at the Port of Montreal, said it had no choice but to declare a lockout Sunday evening in response to the rejection of a final offer tabled last week.

It's no wonder the maritime companies are looking at alternatives such as Saint John.

As one who spent three of his eleven year railroad career in Labor Relations, I must wonder why Relations at Montreal are so much more fractuous than elsewhere. Even if Montreal has three roads, Chessie being the third, making rates - and maritime companies do not relish being at the mercy of one road or the highway, the labor uncertainty (and might I note the thousand mile "Up the Saint Lawrence and back to Gaspe') would be a deterrent to calling there.

121 was into Greenville Jct. at 12:57 with CP 8129/CP 9736, 21 mixed freight, 48 wells/82 containers, KCSM 4886 (DPU), 72 wells/124 containers.

[Edited at 17:28]

120 was into Greenville Jct. at 17:11 with CP 8883/CP 9839, 27 mixed freight (2 loaded autoracks), 6 empty wells, 28 wells/81 containers, KCS 4809 (DPU), 96 wells/189 containers.

Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2024 10:50 am the labor uncertainty (and might I note the thousand mile "Up the Saint Lawrence and back to Gaspe') would be a deterrent to calling there.

Mr Norman,

All I can do is add my two cents to yours.

If it were just a simple thousand miles up and back, that would be no big deal. After all, that is exactly the way things have been done for decades.

The ability to maximize efficiency now is dependent upon operating ships that are 4X the largest ship able to make it to Montreal. If the unions in Montreal are being honest, they see this coming.

They are encouraging the steamship companies to do what they know they have to do eventually anyway.

Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2024 10:50 am The ability to maximize efficiency now is dependent upon operating ships that are 4X the largest ship able to make it to Montreal. If the unions in Montreal are being honest, they see this coming.

Mr. Kuband, from the caption it appears that you hold there is no way that Montreal can handle a 24000 TEU vessel. It certainly appears, as you note, that is where the maritime industry is going (just as the Love Tubs are becoming the Love Lagoons ).

So far as the railroads go, CN "owns" Halifax, but Saint John is quite competitive with three roads making rates there. From the reports here, Chessie is transforming the MEC into an FRA Class 3 road and plans to address the clearance issues presently precluding the operation of double stacked container cars and tri level auto racks.

So far as the "aggrieved" Montreal Longshoremen go, I think you will have to accept if you choose to remain in that profession, unless you are very "Senior", you need to get ready to pack up and "relo" to the Maritimes (maybe learn English as well).

Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2024 10:50 am So far as the "aggrieved" Montreal Longshoremen go, I think you will have to accept if you choose to remain in that profession, unless you are very "Senior", you need to get ready to pack up and "relo" to the Maritimes (maybe learn English as well).

My brother and sister in law were in Saint John a few weeks back. They stayed in one of the downtown hotels there. In the elevator they ran into a couple of guys (with French accents) who just happened to mention they were working on the cranes at the port. A couple of guys working on the cranes with French accents are almost certainly from Montreal. I don't know if "working on the cranes" means they are working on the existing cranes, or doing prep work for the additional cranes being delivered, but I am currently assuming they are working on the existing cranes.

121 was into Greenville Jct. at 09:17 with KCS 4809/CP 9839, 68 wells/126 containers, CP 8883 (DPU), 54 wells/116 containers, 18 mixed freight.

[Edited at 19:31]

120 was into Greenville Jct. at 14:40 with CP 8835/KCSM 4500, 30 mixed freight (6 loaded autoracks), 2 empty wells, 64 wells/112 containers, KCSM 4532 (DPU), 13 wells/20 containers, 59 empty wells.

121 was into Greenville Jct. at 09:15 with CP 8835/KCS 4500, 101 wells/147 containers, KCSM 4532 (DPU), 48 wells/90 containers, 41 mixed freight (2 empty autoracks), and a Jordan Spreader.
[Edited at 18:14]

120 was into Greenville Jct. at 17:59 with KCSM 4886/CP 9633/KCSM 4887, 29 wells/29 containers, 2 mixed freight, 105 empty wells.

121 was into Greenville Jct. at 08:46 with KCSM 4886/CP 9633, 8 mixed freight, 61 wells/126 containers, KCSM 4887 (DPU), 60 wells/122 containers, 13 empty autoracks.

120 was into Greenville Jct. at 14:21 with CP 8883/CP 7017/CP 2263, 55 mixed freight (3 loaded autoracks), 12 wells/23 containers, 5 empty wells, KCS 4848 (DPU), 4 wells/8 containers, 105 empty wells.

121 was into Greenville Jct. at 08:38 with CP 8883/CP 7017, 36 mixed freight, 34 wells/52 containers, KCS 4848 (DPU), 83 wells/134 containers.

[Edited at 17:17]

120 was into Greenville Jct. at 17:03 with 2 CP units, 26 mixed freight (one loaded autorack), one empty well, 4 wells/7 containers, KCS DPU, 51 wells/67 containers, 52 empty wells.

121 was into Greenville Jct. at 10:05 with CP 7039/CP 8548, 50 mixed freight, 52 wells/86 containers, KCS 4877 (DPU), 90 wells/175 containers, 5 empty autoracks.

[Edited at 18:09]

120 was into Greenville Jct. at 16:04 with CP 8623/CP 8009/CP 9757, 93 wells/141 containers, 39 mixed freight (6 loaded autoracks).

121 was into Greenville Jct. at 08:57 with CP 8623/CP 8009, 20 mixed freight, 6 side dumps, 56 wells/115 containers, CP 9757 (DPU), 92 wells/153 containers.

120 was into Greenville Jct. at 16:00 with CP 8102/CP 7044/CP 8647, 24 mixed freight (10 autoracks), 44 wells/77 containers, 30 empty wells.