David Porterfield

Noteworthy to see our neighbours south of the border are upping their rail game. GoRail reported four major federal grant programs in the last several months announced billions in funding for U.S. rail infrastructure. The grants address diverse needs, from high-speed passenger service to essential freight movements, reinforcing rail as a key pillar in America’s transportation and economic infrastructure. This is an important trend for us to be paying attention to here in Canada as we grapple with the challenges of building up supply chain and transportation resiliency. https://lnkd.in/g7nMN_dW #Rail #Infrastructure #supplychainmanagement #supplychain #supplychainsolutions #logisticssolutions #logisticsexpert #logistics #transportation #transportationlogistics #railways #rail #railwayindustry #railfreight #development #industrial #economy #terminals #resiliency

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Insights That Shaped 2024: “We’re developing a passenger rail network of nearly 1,000km... imagine being able to get to Montreal in three hours, or Ottawa in two hours.”  - Martin Imbleau, CEO of Train à grande fréquence - High Frequency Rail at our Transportation Symposium 

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September 23rd - 29th: See Tracks? Think Train® Week (formerly Rail Safety Week) This week, we are shining spotlight on Transit Safety and Professional Driver Safety as part of our See Tracks? Think Train® Week initiative! As we navigate our daily routines, it's crucial to stay vigilant. Below are some key reminders for our company drivers, as well as the drivers within our communities: 1. Always Look Both Ways - Trains can come from either direction, and they move fast! Always stop, look, and listen at crossings. 2. Stay Alert - Avoid distractions. Put away your phone and focus on the road and surroundings. 3. Respect the Signals - When lights flash and gates are down, it’s time to stop; don’t take chances! 4. Share the Road - Remember, you’re not just sharing the road with other vehicles; trains are part of that mix, too. To better understand the need for this concentrated week of rail safety education, visit Operation Lifesaver, Inc.'s site here: https://shorturl.at/1uKF8 #SeeTracksThinkTrain #TransitSafety #ProfessionalDrivers #AmericanTrack

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CPCS talks integrating housing for better transit projects: Adrian Lightstone, senior vice president of CPCS, led a Transport Futures session on transit-oriented development, the Daily Commercial News reports — a news arm of ConstructConnect. CPCS provides development, implementation and leadership advisory services to major transport projects in Canada, the US and the UK. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gnCH2MNG 💭 “The shift is that we’re seeing now, and what we’ve been working on, is really trying to understand from the beginning of project development how to integrate the housing component, the transit component and the supportive infrastructure, like new utilities, new active transportation and so on, into one large, integrated program that is assessed together,” said Lightstone. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/gx67-m4y Martin Collier   #Transit #Transport #Transportation #Canada #Ontario #Infrastructure #Housing

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Ongoing rail sector labour disruptions have knock-on effects for supply chains and the broader economy. We need to do better. From The Logic: CPKC railway’s CEO expects a strike by late August Canadian Pacific Kansas City and the Teamsters local representing thousands of workers are “far apart” as they try to negotiate a new collective agreement, CEO Keith Creel said on a call with analysts Tuesday. Customers have already re-routed shipments in anticipation of a work stoppage at the North American railway that was previously expected in May, the company reported. Talking point: Creel said the ongoing uncertainty is damaging to the company and broader “labour unrest fatigue” is harming Canada. CPKC and rival CN Rail could face simultaneous strikes or lockouts 72 hours after the federal labour board rules on whether any of their services are essential and must be maintained—a decision expected around Aug. 9. Creel said CPKC expects to deliver on its financial forecast and achieve double-digit earnings growth this year, as long as a work stoppage lasts less than two weeks. The railway reported net income of $903 million in its most recent quarter. - The Logic Future Borders Coalition

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In this article Matthew looks at the challenges of building high frequency rails in Canada. The Canadian government’s High Frequency Rail (HFR) plan aims to address issues of reliability, frequency, and speed by constructing dedicated tracks between major cities, facilitating faster and more frequent trains. Electrification of the tracks would reduce emissions, aligning with Canada's environmental goals. Click the link below to read more! https://lnkd.in/ec3gHWY5

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Alberta’s highways are struggling to keep pace due to chronic underfunding and a flawed planning system. Frequent political shifts in project priorities create uncertainty for businesses and road users alike. https://fixourroads.com/ #fixourroads #abroads #roadmaintenance

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Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown LRT project, once hailed as a transformative step forward for public transit, has become a story of delays, frustrations, and unmet expectations. After 14 years of construction, missed deadlines, and escalating costs, the line is still not operational. The impact of these delays is far-reaching. Residents and commuters who were promised an efficient transit solution are still grappling with overcrowded buses and road disruptions. Businesses along Eglinton Avenue have endured years of reduced foot traffic, with many forced to close their doors. Transit is the backbone of a thriving city, and the Eglinton LRT delay is a stark reminder of the need for better project planning and execution. #ECLRT #LRT #Eglinton #Toronto #Transit #Ontario #TTC #Metrolinx #Crosstown

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The two largest #railways in #Canada (#CPKC & #CN) are currently experiencing a lockout of over 9,000 workers after negotiations with the labor #union failed to reach an agreement.   Implications:  #Intermodal: Train movement is halted until an agreement is reached. So, for any cargo currently on a train or at a rail ramp, that freight is stuck until the shutdown is over. #Truckload: With nearly 10 trains moving across the Canada-U.S. border, and assuming 300 equivalent truckload shipments on each train, that means that up to 3,000 daily #crossborder truckload shipments would be needed to keep the same level of freight moving. Despite the soft TL market, harvest season in effect in the Northern portions of the U.S. and capacity is seasonally tight. Additional TL freight will add to this tightness and increase spot rates. #Ports: Congestion at the Canadian ports is expected, as containers will not be able to move. Diversion to nearby U.S. ports would create more congestion at each of these ports as well as increase the need to ship this freight inland by U.S. rail or TL carriers.   C.H. Robinson has the largest network in North America and can help mitigate impact to your #supplychain.

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