Sarnia-Lambton offers robust rail infrastructure that supports efficient and reliable transportation for industries across the region. The area is strategically served by two major rail carriers, Canadian National (CN) and CSX Transportation, providing direct access to key markets across North America. A vital asset to this network is the St. Clair Tunnel, a double-stack capable rail tunnel connecting Sarnia to Port Huron, Michigan, facilitating seamless cross-border freight movement.
Canadian National
Canadian National (CN) is the principal rail carrier in the Sarnia-Lambton area, providing mainline connections to the US Midwest, US Gulf Coast, or eastern US Ports, and rail cars can be transported from Sarnia-Lambton to the Port of Montreal (east) or Port of Vancouver (west) for transloading to ocean freighter. The additional CN’s St. Clair River Industrial Spur Line connects major industry between Sarnia and Courtright to the CN mainline operating as the CN Strathroy Subdivision.
CN maintains five rail yards in the region including the Sarnia Rail Yard which is the largest flat switching yard in the Great Lakes District, with about 30 trains per day including through, terminating, and originating traffic. It has a car capacity of 1,600 cars and a normal daily working capacity of approximately 1,100 cars. The yard has a 1,100 car customer industrial spur capacity, with normal car totals on hand of approximately 1,000. Other assets include a working yard with 600-car capacity, another with 275-car capacity, an equipment repair yard, and one yard devoted to Plains Midstream. Major customers include Plains Midstream, NOVA Chemicals, Pembina, CF Industries, Cabot Canada, ARLANXEO Canada Inc., Suncor Energy Products Inc., and Shell Canada.
CSX Transportation
In Sarnia-Lambton, CSX Transportation operates rail connections between Sarnia and Chatham-Kent, and serves Imperial Oil, Suncor, NOVA Chemicals, CF Industries, ARLANXEO Canada Inc., and Shell, while offering shunting services via spur lines located throughout Sarnia and St. Clair Township. Canadian National moves CSX rail cars in and out of the region.
St. Clair Tunnel
CN also operates the St. Clair Rail Tunnel under the St. Clair River between Sarnia and Port Huron, Michigan. This tunnel accommodates double-stacked containers and multi-level carriers with non-stop efficiency. The tunnel allows for the carry of more freight than any other US - Canada border rail crossing.
Rail Car Services
Given the considerable volume of rail traffic through Sarnia-Lambton, railcar services including maintenance and repair, switching, transloading, storage, and cleaning are provided by a range of providers including Procor Limited, VIP Rail, Cando Rail & Terminals, OWS Rail Car, and ARI Fleet Services of Canada Inc.
VIP Rail operates two locations with connections to the CN and CSX lines, and railcar storage capacities of 950 (Sarnia) and 500 (Corunna) including access to transloading services and warehousing.
Cando Rail & Terminals operates a 550-spot terminal directly serviced by CN off the CN St. Clair industrial spur. The multi-purpose terminal offers services seven days per week for railcar staging for short or long-term, loaded or empty railcars, as well as transloading numerous products to or from railcars.
With its cost-effective industrial infrastructure, strategic location, and reliable utilities, Sarnia-Lambton is an ideal destination for businesses looking to expand or invest in new operations. Our ready-built assets, efficient logistics, and access to skilled labor allow companies to reduce costs, accelerate growth, and compete on a global scale.
