Digest: CP announces plans for Vancouver-area transload, logistics facility

Thursday morning Canadian Pacific and Canadian National news:

Canadian Pacific plans to build a transload and logistics facility adjacent to its intermodal rail facility in Pitt Meadows, B.C. The proposed facility, CP Logistics Park: Vancouver, is in the early stages of design and is subject to regulatory approval prior to CP’s final investment decision. The proposed 41-hectare (101-acre) facility would include a hub to receive and transload agricultural products to shipping containers; an auto compound to receive North American-made vehicles for local distribution; and a facility for handling fuels and ethanol. CP CEO Keith Creel said in a press release that the project “would be a critical piece of infrastructure to keep Canadian goods moving, create jobs and build confidence in Canada as a strong and sustainable global trading partner.” The railroad has already begun engaging First Nations groups on the project, which is in the Katzie First Nation Traditional Territory, and is beginning other community engagement efforts. More information is available here; online open houses will be held Dec. 8 and Dec. 12, with a project feedback form available on the website through Jan. 15, 2021.

Canadian National announced it had set a November record for Canadian grain movement, delivering 3.12 million metric tons. This continues a string of monthly grain records that began in March, and comes after an all-time single-month record of 3.27 million metric tons in October. The railroad is also setting records for moving containerized grain, with 400,000 metric tons in the month. “We remain on track to keep meeting our objectives as set out in the 2020-2021 Grain Plan and Winter Plan,” Rob Reilly, CN chief operating officer, said in a press release. “The new high efficiency grain hopper cars that have started coming into service will also help us move more grain.”

STB approves CP purchase of Detroit tunnel
The Surface Transportation Board has approved Canadian Pacific’s purchase of the Detroit River Tunnel, granting the railroad authority to indirectly control the company that owns the tunnel. CP, which previously owned 16.5% of the tunnel, announced its purchase of the remainder from Borealis Transportation Infrastructure Trust in October [see “CP sought to control its own destiny with Detroit tunnel purchase,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 20, 2020].