Saguenay Port Authority (SPA) continued its investment in railway infrastructure when it awarded a contract for $541,970 to Groupe-Conseil Roche Ltée to prepare detailed plans and specifications for the supply and construction of new rail service in Grande-Anse.
“By awarding this engineering contract, Saguenay Port Authority has taken another major step to create access to the national rail network. These future facilities will enable us to expand and diversify the service provided by Port of Saguenay, and will enhance the role of SPA as a mover of economic activity in the region. The contemplated 12.5-kilometre-long link will include an intermodal marine railway station to facilitate the transshipment of various cargoes at lower cost”, noted Bernard Larouche, Chairman of Saguenay Port Authority.
Jointly financed through the government of Canada’s Gateways and Border Crossings Fund, the Government of Quebec’s Mesure 8 du Plan 2006-2012 sur les changements climatiques, the City of Saguenay and Saguenay Port Authority, the new railway service, which will require an investment of $37 million, will link port facilities to the existing railway network in Roberval-Saguenay and thus provide access to the North American railway network for the movement of cargoes of all kinds. The new railway service is expected to become operational by late 2013.