The initial focus for BTR, as a producer owned company, was the preservation of local railway infrastructure, re-establishment of local rail service, and creation of opportunities for local producers to access a wider variety of grain marketing options.
As BTR has grown, we have expanded into secondary business activities and the development of value added services.
For rail related service fees please see our tariff.
Grain Haulage
The majority of BTR’s grain haulage activity involves movement of producer carloads of grain from BTR stations (Binney, Manitou and Darlingford) to interchange with CP.
In addition to producer car haulage, BTR also now provides commercial rail service, under running rights agreement, to smaller CP customers at CP Stations in Morden, Winkler and Plum Coulee. A wider variety of commodities are shipped from these stations including pulse crops, cereals and oilseeds.
Organic Grain Logistics
BTR offers rail logistics solutions to organic grain buyers and producers across southern Manitoba and into eastern Saskatchewan. We act as an aggregator for single car shippers, and can assist with ordering cars, making arrangements for temporary trackside grain storage and car transloading services, and we can facilitate origin grading if required. Local transloading facilities at Binney, Manitou, and Darlingford are well suited to organic and ID preserved bulk shipments.
Fertilizer and other haulage
BTR has participated in several trials of inbound fertilizer shipments, which have either been unloaded directly by producers for delivery to their own farms, or transloaded by dealers for placement in local inventory. In addition, BTR now regularly handles inbound resin and pelletized plastics for shippers in the Morden and Winkler area.
Car Storage
BTR dedicates up to 15,000 track feet for car storage purposes, depending on timing and level of haulage activity.
Our storage track facility is located in a rural area with low population density and limited road access, minimizing the likelihood of vandalism or other damage to stored equipment.
Contract Services
BTR resources are available on a fee for service basis in the local region for;
- track inspections
- smaller track rehabilitation projects
- locomotive inspections
- basic track maintenance activities
Other Services
Through our business partners BTR can provide access to expertise in a variety of other areas including;
- operational service planning
- track design
- locomotive sales and service
- railcar service and repair
- track construction
- railway related qualifications and training certification programs
- safety management system training and implementation assistance
Photo Courtesy Lorrie Tiegs Photography
