Multimodal Hub Gets Cargo Economy Moving in Niagara

In the heart of Niagara, it’s easier than ever to move cargo from ship to shore and back again.

 

Since 2020, the city of Thorold has been home to a 600-acre multimodal hub along the Welland Canal. This industrial complex provides more than one million square feet of warehouse and outdoor storage space, allowing cargos to be moved between ships, trains and trucks with ease.

 

The hub is more than a place for ships to dock. Railroad lines run directly onto the site. That means cargo can be taken on or off a train right away and quickly stored or shipped throughout North America. The property’s Davis Road connection allows easy access to Highway 406 and the broader Ontario400-series highway network, which connects to Niagara’s border bridges and the wider North American road network.

 

“Now more than ever, companies are looking at how they can streamline their supply chains and lower their costs,” says Manoj Dilwaria, CAO of the City of Thorold.

 

“The Thorold Multimodal Hub is the first of its kind in Niagara, making the most of Niagara region’s valuable transportation assets.”

 

The hub was introduced by BMI Group and HOPA Ports, redeveloping a200-hectare property formerly occupied by a paper mill. Since that first step in the process, the hub has grown by adding adjacent lands, expanding to morethan 600 acres of property stretching along the Canal.

 

The Hub’s success was acknowledged in late 2023 by the Canadian Brownfields Network, which awarded the site a Brownie Award for its successful reimagining of an industrial brownfield for a modern use.

 

According to HOPA Ports, more than a dozen companies are located at the hub. Opportunities are available for businesses looking to locate there: The hub features multiple overhead cranes rated for up to 60 tons, easy access to low-cost hydroelectricity, on-site water filtration and ample warehouse space.

 

“Through collaboration and partnerships with both government and the private sector we’re able to strengthen Canadian supply chains and facilitate Canadian trade and competitiveness in the heart of the Niagara Region,” Dilwaria said.