(The Associated Press distributed the following article on September 30.)
BISMARCK, N.D. — Canadian Pacific Railway says it will begin shipping about 18 percent more grain from elevators in North Dakota and western Minnesota to Pacific Northwest ports, beginning in November.
The railroad said $8 million in track improvements it made in North Dakota and British Columbia this fall will enable it to ship about 13 million bushels per month, an increase from 11 million bushels.
“We can put more and longer trains across the (Canadian) border,” said James Clements, the railroad’s director of grain.
He said improvements in planning and communication on the Canadian Pacific-Union Pacific corridor also are a factor in the increase in capacity. The two railroads’ tracks meet in Idaho, and Union Pacific takes CP Rail cars to the Pacific Northwest.
Steve Strege, executive vice president of the North Dakota Grain Dealers Association, said “any increase in capacity is welcome,” as long as elevators are able to get the number of trains they need each month.
A shortage of rail cars last fall hampered many North Dakota elevators. Strege said so far this year, “railroads have been current on their (car) orders.”
A smaller wheat crop in Kansas is a big reason, Strege said. The situation could change when corn harvest gets into full swing, he said.