CN opens $14-million auto compound

TORONTO, Ont. — CN Rail’s new $14-million Toronto Automotive Compound at MacMillan yard, north of Toronto, is officially open.

The new facility’s track layout will accommodate the unloading of 60 auto-carrying rail cars at once, compared with 27 unloading spots at the former compound at Mac Yard, and will have room to park up to 4,500 vehicles. Officials say a second phase of expansion will provide parking for 6,000 cars and/or trucks.

James Foote, executive vice-president of sales and marketing for CN, said: “Our Toronto Automotive Compound is a key facility in our vehicle distribution network in Ontario, the largest auto market in Canada. Our new state-of-the-art facility will help CN increase the efficiency of vehicle transportation, accommodate more traffic, improve customer service, and better utilize our valuable real estate assets at MacMillan Yard, the largest rail classification terminal on CN’s network.”