BRR operates an 83km stretch of track from Alliance to Camrose, where it then interchanges with CN. CN previously owned that section of track before BRR purchased it in 2010.
Westlock previously trucked in its wheat.
The organization would’ve needed 11 trucks to transport the same volume of grain as the five rail cars.
Westlock decided to explore rail as an alternative.
“They went to CN for a rate and got one that was competitive with trucking. It was in the ballpark,” Matthew Enright, general manager of BRR, told Progressive Railroading.
For Westlock, this move represents additional opportunities for Alberta grain.
“What that gives us is the ability to blend and continuation of shipping. If we don't have that specific product in our local area, what are you going to do? Tell your customers to see you later, we'll see you next year kind of a deal,” Clifford Bell, CEO of Westlock Terminals, told Town and Country Today on Nov. 5. “You've got to keep feeding that pipeline. We want to make sure that we're pricing our products competitively so we can get them out to the world stage.”