Rail drayage in the GTA: CN Brampton and CPKC Vaughan intermodal terminals

Many ocean containers bound for the Toronto area arrive by train at CN’s Brampton terminal or CPKC’s Vaughan terminal, not by truck from a port. This guide explains how pick-up works at each one, which rules catch shippers out, and what to ask a drayage carrier.

Last updated: 24 October 2026

Why GTA containers arrive by rail

The Greater Toronto Area is a long way from any container port, so most import containers reach it by rail from Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Montreal or Halifax. The shipping line and its rail contract decide which railway carries the box, and so which terminal it arrives at. You usually can’t choose the terminal after booking. Check the arrival notice or the shipping line’s tracking to see where your container will be. Then find a drayage carrier with access to that terminal.

Ontario-bound freight is a large share of what moves through the Port of Montreal. Transport Canada reports that in 2024, 31% of inbound containers at that port were destined for Ontario.

CN Brampton Intermodal Terminal

Address (per CN)	76 Intermodal Drive, Brampton, ON L6T 5K1 (office); 55 Devon Road, Brampton, ON L6T 5B6
Gate hours (per CN)	Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day. CN posts separate hours for holidays.
Access tools listed by CN	Gate appointment, Speed Gate, pad plan process, driver registration, CN Express Pass

Gate appointments and the pad plan

Brampton runs a “pad plan”. According to CN, the terminal posts the pad plan by noon the day before. Each container gets one of four pad times (00:01, 07:00, 12:00 or 18:00), and that time shows up in CN’s tracking. A gate appointment can be reserved while the container is still en route and updated after the pad time is posted. CN advises making gate appointments before the train arrives, in case the container goes straight to the pad.

This matters because of what happens to containers without an appointment. CN says containers arriving at Brampton without a gate appointment could be shuttled to its Mississauga terminal (MISC), and that this includes a $150.00 storage fee. To keep the container at Brampton, a valid gate appointment has to be in place.

Storage at CN terminals

CN requires storage guarantees to be made through its eBusiness tool, Intermodal Shipment Status. CN no longer accepts faxed or emailed guarantees. The tool shows the first day of storage and any amount owing, and that amount has to show a $0 balance before pick-up can be arranged. Storage charges are set in CN’s optional services tariff, CN 9100. Free time and daily rates can change, so check the current tariff or the tool for your container rather than relying on old figures.

Other CN terminals in the GTA

CN also lists two nearby Mississauga facilities, both open 24 hours a day: Malport (7675 Torbram Road) and the Mississauga terminal at 7505 Bramalea Road. If your container is moved, confirm the new pick-up location before dispatching a truck.

CPKC Vaughan Intermodal Terminal

Vaughan is CPKC’s main intermodal terminal for the Toronto area. CPKC publishes its rules mainly through its tariffs and its driver guides. Check gate hours and the current address with CPKC or your carrier before planning a pick-up.

FastPass auto-gate

CPKC terminals use the FastPass auto-gate system. According to CPKC’s user guide for drivers and dray carriers, new drivers have to be registered by their dray carrier before they arrive at CPKC. Drivers can then use the FastPass mobile app to look up equipment and create pre-gate transactions, with a QR code for the gate. Drivers who don’t pre-gate in the app have to complete the transaction at a touch screen at the gate. In short, only carriers that have set up their company and drivers with CPKC can work at Vaughan without delays.

Short free time at Vaughan

The CPKC 3 intermodal tariff (effective 1 November 2025) gives steamship-line containers in import and export service 24 hours of free time at Vaughan and Lachine, compared with 48 hours at the other listed terminals. Other points from the same tariff:

The clock (CPKC calls it “asset use”) starts at 00:01 after the unit is available for pick-up and ends at 23:59 on the day it leaves.
Weekends and legal holidays count if the terminal is open.
Charges are per day, per unit, and the payer of freight is responsible for them.
Units that stay beyond free time can be transferred to an offsite location. The tariff lists a transfer fee of $500 per unit, on top of storage, and the clock keeps running.

With only 24 hours, there is little room for a late customs release or an unbooked truck. Line up your carrier before the train arrives.

CN Brampton vs CPKC Vaughan at a glance

	CN Brampton	CPKC Vaughan
Gate access	Gate appointment, Speed Gate, driver registration, CN Express Pass	FastPass auto-gate; drivers registered by their dray carrier
Storage	Guarantee through CN eBusiness; $0 balance before pick-up	Charged under the CPKC 3 tariff to the payer of freight
Watch out for	Shuttle to MISC without a gate appointment	24-hour free time for steamship containers

Planning a smooth GTA rail pick-up

Confirm the terminal early from the arrival notice or the shipping line’s tracking.
Clear customs before the train arrives where you can. Rail free time is short, and the clock does not wait for paperwork.
Book the carrier ahead of time and send the container number, the terminal, the delivery address, hours, and whether the load is live or a drop.
Check storage status in the railway’s tools, or ask your carrier or forwarder to.
Plan the empty return. Ask where the shipping line wants the empty returned. It may not be the same terminal.
Consider a pre-pull if your dock can’t take the container within free time. Yard storage at a carrier is often simpler than railway storage, but compare the costs.

Questions to ask a GTA drayage carrier

Are your company and drivers registered at CN Brampton and CPKC Vaughan, or only one of them?
Do you book CN gate appointments and CPKC pre-gates yourselves?
Do you have chassis available for 20′, 40′ and 45′ containers and for heavy loads?
Do you offer pre-pulls and yard storage, and what do they cost?
Which extra charges apply (fuel, waiting time, chassis, storage pass-through)?

FAQ

Can I choose whether my container goes to Brampton or Vaughan?

Usually not after booking. The shipping line’s rail routing decides it, so confirm the destination terminal on the booking or arrival notice.

What happens if my container has no gate appointment at CN Brampton?

According to CN’s pad plan page, it could be shuttled to CN’s Mississauga terminal (MISC), with a $150.00 storage fee.

How much free time do I get at CPKC Vaughan?

Under the CPKC 3 tariff effective 1 November 2025, steamship-line containers in import and export service get 24 hours at Vaughan. Check the current tariff for your shipment.

Who pays rail storage charges?

CPKC’s tariff makes the payer of freight responsible. Who pays in the end depends on your contracts with the shipping line, forwarder and carrier.

Find GTA rail drayage carriers

See the carriers that serve each terminal: CN Brampton drayage carriers and CPKC Vaughan drayage carriers. You can also browse all drayage carriers in the Toronto area or elsewhere in Ontario. To request a quote, open a carrier’s page and contact that company directly.

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