DP World to invest more than $13 million to improve rail capacity

SASKATOON – One of the major players at the Port of Vancouver is expanding rail capacity at a key export terminal.

DP World is investing $13.3 million in a project at its Fraser Surrey terminal designed to improve export performance.

DP’s Port Authority Rail Yard project will increase total usable track length to nearly 13,000 metres from 7,200 metres.

The project is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2026.

Doug Smith, chief executive officer of DP World Canada, said the terminal is seeing increased demand from exporters of agriculture and value-added agri-food products.

“This investment helps create additional rail staging and handling capacity at the terminal, which improves overall cargo flow and supports more reliable export movements,” he said in an email.

“It also aligns with a broader industry focus on strengthening inland connectivity and ensuring Canada’s trade infrastructure can support long-term growth.”

The project will allow the terminal to accommodate longer trains, reduce the need to rearrange rail cars within the yard and improve the flow of inbound and outbound rail traffic.

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The expansion allows Fraser Surrey to accommodate two unit trains at the same time, reducing downtime between train movements and improving cargo flow during peak periods.

The Fraser Grain Terminal is permitted to move four million tonnes of grain. An additional one million tonnes of canola oil can be exported through its oil transload facility.

“While the project is primarily focused on improving efficiency and fluidity within existing permitted capacity, it also positions the terminal to better support future growth and evolving customer demand over time,” said Smith.

DP World works with a range of customers across the grain exporting, canola processing and agri-processing sectors. The firm does not disclose customer names due to confidentiality agreements.

Products moving through Fraser Surrey are primarily exported to markets across Asia.

Smith thinks the Fraser Surrey project could help boost overall west coast rail performance.

“Small improvements at key nodes can have broader positive effects across the network by improving fluidity, reducing dwell times and creating additional operating flexibility,” he said.

“At Fraser Surrey, the expanded rail capacity will allow an additional unit train to be held directly on site rather than staged further inland.”

Smith said many supply chain constraints emerge when inland infrastructure and logistics capacity are not aligned with the throughput capacity of marine terminals.

“Investments like this help strengthen that alignment and improve end-to-end system performance.”

DP World is also launching its new short-sea shipping facility this summer. The facility connects Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.

“That project is designed to create additional coastal logistics capacity, improve cargo fluidity with the Vancouver gateway and support more resilient supply chains for Canadian exporters and importers alike,” he said.

The firm is also advancing the future Contrecoeur container terminal project near Montreal in conjunction with the Montreal Port Authority.