A city on the Move: J.D. Irving, Limited and the Port of Saint John are Driving Regional Growth
This year’s Port Days in Saint John will feature a big change. After two years of virtual sessions, the city will be welcoming people back in-person to discuss issues around sustainability and supply chains. But one thing that has remained the same for decades is J.D. Irving, Limited’s commitment to the Port of Saint John’s growth and success.
Saint John is home to the fastest growing container port in eastern North America, and JDI’s transportation and logistics division is helping make that happen.
“We’ve always been a very close strategic partner with the Port of Saint John,” says Andrew Fisher, Group VP, Transportation & Logistics, J.D. Irving, Limited. “New Brunswick Southern Railway (NBSR) has been operating as the Port’s railway since we first bought the line in 1995, which has proven to be a very good investment. It’s the same line that today connects the Port with the rest of North America.”
“We’ve just renewed our long-term agreement with CN, who we connect with on the east side of Saint John. And we can move their products east or west through the Port.”
NBSR also has a direct interchange in Brownville Junction Maine with CPKC – a partnership that, remarkably, connects Saint John as far south as Mexico. Add to that the company’s direct interchange with CSX in Mattawamkeag Maine, and it’s easy to see the Port of Saint John is truly a global player when it comes to container shipping.
“There were times last fall when we were moving over 10,000 feet of containers a day through the Port of Saint John,” explains Fisher.
But JDI does much more at the Port than just ship containers. The company also plays a vital role in the health and safety of the people who call into Saint John. This was especially important during the pandemic.
“If the folks came to port, and they needed medical services, we would look after arranging that through our Kent Line business,” said Fisher. “During the pandemic we would arrange for COVID testing and any services that the folks would need.”
NBSR has also shown it cares about the community and its residents. That’s why the company, together with the City of Saint John and Province of New Brunswick, is investing in new safety infrastructure that will eliminate the need for regulated whistles to sound at a number of westside crossings.
“This is where we call home, and all the employees that work for the railroad live here too,” said Fisher. “So, we get it. And when our neighbors feel the impact of increased traffic and whistles, we look at ways we can work together.”
The new safety measures represent a combined investment of close to $900,000, with funding being split between the Government of New Brunswick (50 per cent), New Brunswick Southern Railway (33 per cent) and the City of Saint John (17 per cent).
With the Port of Saint John growing, investment in key infrastructure is vital. That is why NBSR invested $10 million in their new Lancaster Logistics Park, an intermodal terminal at its Dever Road railyard to transfer containers from rail cars to tractor-trailers.
Last year, NBSR completed a major project when it rehabilitated the Reversing Falls Railway Bridge, spending $17 million in the process.
Eighty workers put in 90,000 hours to refurbish the Reversing Falls railway bridge, including engineers, technicians, operators, skilled tradespeople and labourers from JDI groups including CFM, Gulf Operators, Project Engineering and Irving Equipment.
As well, NBSR started a $42 million project last year upgrading it railway infrastructure in the province. The project is funded in part through the Federal National Trade Corridor Fund.
J.D. Irving is excited to see the Port of Saint John grow and thrive. As a company that calls Saint John home, we take pride in seeing the port play a major role on a global stage.
“Our division has been a strategic partner with the Port of Saint John for a very, very, long time,” said Fisher. “And we’re quite excited to see the Port investing. It’s good for the Port. It’s good for New Brunswick, it’s good for Canada.”
“All of these railways that connect to the Port of Saint John through our railway access markets from the world to all of Canada and North America. Having an active Port and a strong rail infrastructure is critical to all shippers. So, whether it’s JDI or any other shipper in the region, the more efficient and the more productive the transportation infrastructure is, the more competitive they are on a global landscape.”