MINNEAPOLIS - (Business Wire) RailMate, an innovative bi-modal transportation solution is hauling select aggregate from Minnesota
’s Mesabi Iron Range for delivery to MnROAD, Minnesota Department of Transportation
’s (Mn/DOT) cold weather pavement testing facility located near Albertville, MN. The railroad ballast-sized (2
” to 3
½ “) aggregate will be used as a foundation for a pavement test segment at MnROAD. This two-week transportation delivery system test, in conjunction with Canadian Pacific (CP), will be from April 21
– May 3, 2008.
Sponsored by the Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, (NRRI-UMD), the NRRI will evaluate the technical and operational capabilities of an alternative transportation system for delivering taconite aggregate and/or other material from ‘the material source to a material destination.’
RailMate units will be loaded onto the rail at CP Hopkins Spur in Hopkins, MN. Twin Cities and Western Railroad (TC&W) will move the RailMate consist to the CP St. Paul Pigs Eye Yard, St. Paul, MN, and Canadian Pacific will move RailMate to Superior, WI.
Jeff Foster Trucking, Inc., Superior, WI, will provide tractors and experienced drivers to move RailMate trailers on and off the rail spur located at the CP Stinson Yard, Superior, WI. RailMate bogies will be parked and RailMate trailers will then be driven to the United Taconite Mine, managed by Cleveland Cliffs, in Eveleth, MN, the heart of Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range, where Laurentian Aggregate will load the aggregate material.
Once RailMate trailers are returned to the CP St. Paul Pigs Eye Yard and CP Hopkins Spur, the RailMate trailers will be taken off the rail by PT Mac, Inc. from Bird Island, MN, who will drive the loaded trailers for delivery to MnROAD.
This two week test will not only demonstrate significant reduction in transportation supply chain costs through fuel and labor savings; it will also demonstrate RailMate as a ‘green’ transportation system, reducing fuel emissions, noise, road congestion and wear & tear on our highways.
ABOUT AMERICAN SURFACE LINES, LLC:
American Surface Lines, LLC, manufacturer of RailMate, is a progressive leader in manufacturing bi-modal transportation equipment, is committed to – ‘smart’ innovative product designs, dependable product performance and meeting the transportation challenges of today’s markets.
For more information, visit www.railmate.com.
American Surface Lines, LLC
Joyce Lark, 952-830-9050
Director of Administration and Marketing
joyce.lark@railmate.com
