We're big in Memphis, Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee

The Fairview Container Project is making some waves in the heart of the southern USA. Canadian National Railways is making a video for their Memphis operations and one of the key features of the "linking of the east and west" is the western terminus of Prince Rupert.

In a story from the Memphis commercial appeal, CN explains how the Port at Prince Rupert is going to bring a boom of sorts to "Gateway Memphis" CN's south central hub. The video and CN website both trumpet Frank C. Pidgeon Park as North America's distribution center.

While we tend to think of the Fairview port as a Prince Rupert story, this goes to show the scope of the impact that our port is going to have across the continent.

Video touts Pidgeon park as critical link
Global shippers to get message from port commission, Canadian National Railroad
By Jane Roberts
Memphis Commercial Appeal
October 18, 2006

In a venture with Canadian National Railroad, the port commission is finishing up a four-minute video that promotes Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park as the critical link between east and west.
Through connections with the Memphis Regional Chamber, the video will be mailed to "hundreds of companies, at least, probably thousands" of companies that ship containers from Asia or Europe, said Randy Richardson, deputy director of the International Port of Memphis.
But before then, it will have a place on CN's Web site as the railroad gears up for the opening of its Prince Rupert port in British Columbia in fall 2007.

The port will allow trans-Pacific customers to shave 59 hours of sailing time off ships from Shanghai normally bound for Los Angeles.

"When fuel costs are higher than $60 per barrel, these savings are substantial for steamship companies transporting the containers," said Mark Hallman, CN spokesman.

CN, which has direct access to three coasts, including the Gulf Coast, wants to develop a base of customers at the city- and county-owned Pidgeon Park in southwest Memphis where CN and CSX railroads share a 155-acre intermodal facility.

The park has about 2,500 acres of space still open for development.
CN is planning to run a competitive 136-hour rail service from Port Rupert to Memphis, the key distribution hub in the south-central United States.

The video, "Gateway Memphis," focuses on the time savings, CN's facilities in Halifax, Nova Scotia; Prince Rupert, and Memphis.

It was created by API Photographers Inc. here. CN and the port commission are splitting the $15,000 cost.

"We're just waiting for details for ending credits," Richardson said.

"We're selling a transportation product. We expect it will appeal to many of the same companies already in Memphis selling apparel, electronics, pharmaceuticals," he said. "Anyone who ships products in large quantity from Europe or Asia."

Local companies can expect price breaks on goods going to Asia or Europe, he said.
"There's an incentive for them to have product going out, which usually leads to better pricing."

--Jane Roberts: 529-2512
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