UP opens second-largest intermodal terminal

Union Pacific on Oct. 18 celebrated the opening of its 785-acre Joliet Intermodal Terminal, which it said  “increases international and domestic container capacity while improving rail traffic efficiencies throughout the Chicago region.” This facility is the second largest UP intermodal terminal in capacity. The Intermodal Container and Trailer Facility (ICTF) in Long Beach is the largest, with an annual capacity of 700,000 trailers or containers.

“Our $370 million private investment for this intermodal terminal will greatly enhance our ability to serve customers and the community. The advanced computers and technology used here coordinate all movements in the terminal, improving productivity and performance while reducing emissions,” said Jim Young, Union Pacific chairman and CEO. “The building of this facility created nearly 6,000 construction jobs. If we look at CenterPoint Properties’ entire development, we can also expect up to 1,300 permanent intermodal facility jobs, 4,500 industrial park jobs, and more than 3,000 new truck driver positions.”

Young said the terminal, also known as Global IV, is designed to handle an annual capacity of 500,000 trailers or containers and has additional space for expansion.

Among the terminal’s features are four 8,000-foot tracks with capacity to handle the loading or unloading of 104 doublestack cars; six 8,000-foot tracks to sort railcars by destination; six storage tracks, four straddle cranes, and one rubber-tired mobile “packer”; and technology that cuts truck processing time at the terminal’s entrance from four minutes to as little as 30 to 90 seconds