North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said the state would launch intermodal rail service next week to reduce varied industry shipping costs.
Burgum announced the decision at the close of the recent third annual Main Street ND Summit. It is a result of more than 20 years of pursuing such access and Minot will receive an intermodal unit train at a newly operational facility serviced by BNSF railway.
Intermodal rail service is the movement of international containers enabling producers and processors to directly load containers on rail in Minot to ship to international destinations.
“Given the global demand for North Dakota products, this is a game-changer,” Burgum said. “Producers and processors across our state will now have access to competitively priced transportation, which will enable us to further grow and diversify our economy. We’re deeply grateful for everyone at the local, state, and federal levels who worked tirelessly for more than two decades to make this a reality.”
James Leiman, director of economic development and finance at the North Dakota Department of Commerce, said adding intermodal will reduce shipping costs for agricultural producers by an average of 15 to 25 percent.
Leiman indicated the factor is critical in consideration of the global economic environment.
Burgum extended gratitude to the varied individuals and groups that assisted the state in securing intermodal rail service, including the state’s congressional delegation, private industry, legislators from across the state, the North Dakota Trade Office, the state departments of Commerce, Transportation, and Agriculture, the City of Minot, and the Minot Area Development Corporation.