CP Rail launches High Efficiency Product (HEP) train at G3 Pasqua Elevator
Canadian Pacific unveiled the next generation of grain transportation at the G3 Pasqua Elevator near Moose Jaw on Tuesday, December 4.
The 8,500-foot High Efficiency Product (HEP) train features new, and highly efficient, Canadian-made hopper cars, and can move approximately 44 percent more grain than the prior generation of grain train.
Speaking at a press conference to launch the HEP train, Joan Hardy, CP’s Vice-President Sales and Marketing – Grain and Fertilizers says CP has invested half-a-billion-dollars which will see the hopper cars increasing to 5,900 over the next four (4) years. This she noted is a major move and a big investment for customers. “I am very happy to be at G3 Pasqua to celebrate the arrival of CP’s new high capacity hopper cars. To date, we’ve taken delivery of more than 300 of these new hopper cars and we have a full train of these cars loaded here with Saskatchewan grains today,” (December, 4, 2018), she said.
“By the end of 2018, we will have 500 of these new hoppers in our fleet and 1000 cars by the end of the first quarter of 2019. Over the next four years, we plan to purchase a total of 5,900 new hopper cars. This is an investment of half-ofbillion-dollars on the part of CP. These new hopper cars will fully replace the old lower capacity government of Canada hopper cars. This is also a massive investment for our customers and would not have been possible without the Federal government’s passage this spring of Bill C-49—the Transportation Modernization Act,” Hardy pointed out.
She continued, “A state-of-the-art loop track terminal like this is the perfect backdrop for launching our first HEP train and bringing in a new, more efficient era of moving Canada’s grain to market. As CP continues to take delivery of new railcars, and elevator operators expand their facilities to handle 8,500-foot trains, this HEP train will become the new gold standard – driving further efficiencies for farmers, shippers and the entire grain supply chain. The future of the grain supply chain is bright. With continued collaboration, a commitment to innovation, and strategic capital investment in key markets, like Saskatchewan, the grain supply chain is well positioned for continued success.”
G3 constructed its state-of-the-art Pasqua terminal loop track to handle the 8,500-foot-long HEP trains. The fast loading loop track means CP can keep locomotives attached to the train during loading, and those same locomotives are in place to launch the train once loading is complete.
Mark Dyck, G3’s Senior Director Logistics said this multi-billion dollar in- vestment will allow Canada to remain competitive in the global market. “Investments like CPs new cars are going to allow us to move a lot more gain. Our loop tracks can accommodate trains which are 8,500 feet in length and this equates to 134 of the current hopper cart fleet in Canada of the 150 brand new hopper cars. These new cars hold more grain in comparison to the older fleet. These investments will allow Canadian farmers to get their product to market more quickly and efficiently and allow Canada to remain competitive in the world market.” Meanwhile, G3 CEO Don Chapman said, “CP’s new high-capacity hopper cars add an important link in the grain supply chain. Combined with fast, efficient loading on G3 loop track systems, these trains will accelerate the flow of grain to market, to the benefit of all our customers. G3 is proud to work in close collaboration with CP.”
The new hopper cars that make up the train feature a capacity 10 percent greater by weight than the older-model Government of Canada cars, and 15 percent more volume. The cars carry this extra product on a frame 5 percent shorter than the older cars, meaning more cars can fit into a train of the same length.
The cars are part of CP’s investments that it is making to upgrade its fleet to better and more efficiently serve farmers and the Canadian economy. “We are pleased to see CP unveil their high-capacity hopper cars,” Lori Carr, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Highways and Infrastructure said, who was also at the press conference. “CP’s investment along with G3’s investment in a long loop track will help our producers get their product to market more efficiently and in greater volume.” Minister Carr said this investment shows CP’s commitment to innovation in the transportation network. “Saskatchewan is an export based province and our transportation network is vital to the overall success of our economy. We rely heavily on rail to move our resources including food, fuel and fertilizer. I know that the Canadian Pacific Railway is required to develop and submit a grain transportation and winter operations contingency plan for the current crop year. I’ve seen this plan and you certainly mean business. We celebrate these actions that are taking place. The launch of CP’s new hopper cars and High Efficiency Product train right here at G3’s Pasqua Elevator demonstrates an impressive response to the new requirements as well as the commitment toward innovation and the agriculture sector as a whole.”
CP moved 2.64 million metric tonnes (MMT) of Canadian grain and grain products in October making it CP’s biggest month ever for moving Canadian grain, breaking the record from September 2017. CP has also broken its previous record for carloads of Western Canadian grain and grain products shipped to the Port of Vancouver in a single month. Canadian Pacific is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to major ports on the west and east coasts. CP provides North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise.