| By region, Canadians do the most business within the | | | | high-capacity rail cars and double-stacked seatainers |
| Great Lakes region by nearly four times over the | | | | will not fit through the existing tunnel. A new, larger |
| Midwest region. | | | | tunnel must be built. The new, larger tunnel will be built |
| The Automotive Industry in Canada | | | | next to the existing tunnels. |
| With the signing of the North American Free Trade | | | | How the New DRTP Rail Tunnel Will Be Built |
| Agreement (NAFTA), the automotive industry found | | | | The new DRTP rail tunnel will have an inside diameter |
| Canada and Ontario in particular a welcome place to | | | | of nearly 27 feet to accommodate the |
| do business. Recently, automotive jobs in Ontario are | | | | next-generation rail cars and double-stacked |
| on the increase while in Michigan they are on the | | | | seatainers. The tunnelling will be through the soft clay |
| decline. Last year, Ontario built more cars and trucks | | | | layer, using a pressure-balanced, tunnel boring machine |
| than any other location in North America. | | | | (TBM) shown in the middle left. |
| Detroit/Windsor Rail Corridor Is Vital to the National | | | | This unique machine is huge and is used to bore |
| Transportation Network | | | | through the clay layer while building the tunnel behind it. |
| The Detroit River Tunnel Partnership (DRTP) owns | | | | Equalized pressure is maintained at the cutting head to |
| and operates the 100-year-old rail corridor that runs | | | | prevent problems with the clay layers above the |
| from Highway 401 in Canada to I-75 in Detroit. All the | | | | machine. Once the pre-cast, concrete tunnel segments |
| land within the corridor is owned by the DRTP. The | | | | are laid in place by the machine, the entire geological |
| tunnel serves CPR and any other railroad operators | | | | structure is stabilized. The tunnel is completed when |
| that wish to use the tracks, making this a "neutral | | | | the TBM breaks through on the opposite side from |
| tunnel." The Detroit rail crossing run by the DRTP is an | | | | where it started tunnelling. |
| ongoing business and carries over 450,000 rail cars a | | | | The DRTP Jobs Tunnel will be 1.6 miles long and can |
| year. This is equivalent to over 1,000,000 truckloads. | | | | be completed in less than four years after the |
| The DRTP/CPR corridor is an existing, 100-year-old | | | | environmental assessment (EA) is completed and |
| transportation corridor through Windsor and Detroit. | | | | government permits are granted. |
| Much of this corridor is surrounded by vacant or | | | | The new rail tunnel will be completed in five phases: |
| industrial land. | | | | 1. Environmental Assessment Phase |
| Keeping Viable Rail Service in Detroit | | | | 2. Engineering Design Phase |
| This tunnel is challenged by its age. Next-generation rail | | | | 3. Funding Commitment Phase |
| cars are being put into service by the railroad industry | | | | 4. Tunnel Construction Phasei. Tunnel Boring Machine |
| now and will continue over the next several years. | | | | Commitmentii. Tunnel Liner Commitment |
| These taller rail cars are bigger than the inside | | | | 5. Commissioning Phase |
| diameter of the existing tunnel. In 1906 when this tunnel | | | | The New Detroit Windsor Jobs Tunnel Security |
| was built, no one could have imagined a rail car 21 feet, | | | | Security is an important part of CPR's daily business. |
| 10 inches tall! | | | | This is especially true in the Detroit/Windsor corridor. |
| Below is a recent article regarding American Honda | | | | CPR operates its own police force on both sides of |
| Motor Company's purchase of $100 million worth of | | | | the border to ensure security. |
| the new, taller rail cars. These new cars will not fit | | | | Also, all rail cars are run past a VACIS (Vehicle and |
| through the existing Detroit/Windsor rail tunnel. | | | | Cargo Inspection System) device to Gama-Ray all rail |
| Honda is shipping cars by new Auto-Max railcars | | | | cars before entering the United States. The |
| The Greenbrier Companies announced today it | | | | government-monitored system, using trackside towers |
| hasreceived the largest order ever for its Auto-Max | | | | (such as the one shown at right) can detect |
| railcarused for transporting new automotive vehicles. | | | | stowaways, contraband, and explosive devices by |
| The $100million order is from American Honda Motor | | | | generating an interior image of each railcar and its |
| Co., Inc. | | | | contents whether they be tank car, hopper car, |
| The extra-wide decks in Auto-Max railcars can be | | | | container or boxcar, as it rolls by at 5-7 miles per hour. |
| adjusted to adapt to changing consumer patterns. In | | | | Moreover, the new rail tunnel will have the most |
| addition to carrying passenger vehicles three high, | | | | sophisticated sensor array of any tunnel on the North |
| Auto-Max is the only railcar that carries most sport | | | | American border. |
| utilities, cross-over vehicles, compact pickups, and | | | | With all these security measures, this border crossing |
| minivans in a tri-level (three-high) configuration. The | | | | is safe. |
| decks are also readily convertible to carry large SUVs | | | | It is clear that the CPR track system is a key element |
| and large pickup trucks in a two-high configuration due | | | | in delivering the products needed to keep millions of |
| to Auto-Max's patented features. | | | | Americans working in the Midwest. And, it is also clear |
| [Posted Feb 14, 2006 at Inside Line, an Edmunds.com, | | | | that this system is jeopardized by the restrictions of a |
| Inc. blog] | | | | 100-year-old tunnel in Detroit that is not adequate for |
| The Solution | | | | the next-generation rail cars coming on line. |
| As discussed previously, the next-generation, | | | | |