A close call

摘要

As Dominic J Taddeo, president and ceo of Montreal Port Authority, pointed out recently: 'Intermodalism is the key to success. Without that we cannot operate effectively as a gateway port.' He was referring to the port of Montreal (PQ), which, unlike most North American gateways, has developed as a key inland hub port. In Montreal, rail inter-modal traffic accounts for approximately 60% of the port's total container throughput. Furthermore, some 75% of the port's container volume has its origin or final destination outside the province of Quebec. This is also increasingly relevant to the port of Halifax (NS), a deepsea maritime port (unlike Montreal). The railroad Canadian National (CN) has increased its financial investment there recently, and despite major differences between the two ports, Halifax is now seen as more of a competitor to Montreal than was the case in the past.