The Pido Road industrial rail spur - Date unknown Lois Tuffin.

24 September 2012

Industrial Rail Line to Close

Peterborough Ontario - Canadian Pacific Railway may be planning to close some industrial rail lines in Peterborough, but Shining Waters Railway founding president Tony Smith isn't too concerned.
 
The main line that goes into the industrial park, he says, will be expensive to fix and he doesn't envision anyone using it anyway.
 
The 1.4-kilometre stretch to United Canadian Malt does get regular use, but Mr. Smith says it takes about three years for CPR to go through the process of selling off the line and by then he expects Shining Waters to be in control of the line and has no plans to let it fall into disrepair.
 
He says the contractor studying the rail line is expected to have a report out this fall that will set out what exactly it would cost to restore passenger service from Toronto to Peterborough as well as upgrade the crumbling lines for freight purposes.
 
If it's within the $300 million budgeted by the provincial and federal governments, he says the project will move ahead.
 
CPR's plans to sell off the line were on the agenda for Monday night's committee of the whole meeting (24 Sep 2012).
 
Councillors opted to pursue buying the industrial park line for the Trans-Canada Trail, but will look at options to continue the use on the line to United Canadian Malt.
 
Monte Smith, general manager and vice-president of United Canadian Malt, says rail service is important for the business to remain competitive.
 
Production depends on the demand, but he figures the business uses 28 to 40 rail cars of grain per year.
 
The option of unloading the rail cars at Harper Road and transporting it by truck has been presented, but he says that drives up the production cost and will make it tougher to compete as the product is sold internationally.
 
The facility, he says employs nearly 20 full-time employees as well as a number of part-time staff.
 
"The rail line right now is the most cost effective," he says.
 
He's hoping the City supports keeping the line open.
 
The company has been on the site since 1988 and supplies malt for a wide range of products, including cereals, chocolates, chewing gum, beer, vinegars, and ice cream.
 
Author unknown.