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Confirm the strategic role of freight transportation through the consolidation of existing infrastructure
The Ville de Montréal confirms the strategic role of freight transportation through the consolidation of existing infrastructure (see Map 2.2.5). In this respect, the Plan aims at increasing the accessibility and service to employment areas that are freight transportation generators.
Intermodal transportation: One of Montréal’s key advantages
Montréal's strategic role has evolved to the point where the City is a freight transportation hub, particularly for traffic between Europe and North America , as a result of the efficiency of its intermodal connections. This role provides Montréal with a major advantage in a global trade environment that fosters competition between cities.
The accessibility and quality of international freight transportation services are factors that export-oriented manufacturing industries and the freight distribution sector consider when selecting a location.
The Port of Montréal is the keystone of freight transportation in Montréal. In addition to the Port, the major trans-Canada railway networks, Montréal - Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and the development of an expressway network connecting the City to all other points in North America contribute to upholding Montréal's role as a freight transportation hub.
Intermodal transportation, which is the key to modern freight movement logistics, is one of the factors that enable Montréal to maintain its international role. Through a series of processes, it can eliminate break bulks from one transportation mode to another.
The fact that more than 100 kilometres of railway track in the Port of Montréal are located directly on the loading docks and in all container terminals, thus providing greater intermodal efficiency, gives Montréal a major advantage over its competitors. These tracks are connected directly to the continent-spanning railway networks of Canadian Pacific (CP) and Canadian National (CN), thereby consolidating Montréal's position. Very few cities benefit from this level of integration.
