(Source: Canadian Pacific Railway press release, October 17, 2011)
TORONTO, Ontario — Canadian Pacific will be the exclusive Canadian rail transportation provider for Contrans, using innovative Raildecks multimodal flat rack containers. The agreement extends the long-haul efficiencies of rail to a markets currently served by transport trucks across Canada.
“Raildecks’ innovative product extends the efficiencies of intermodal rail to industrial products shippers,” said John McBoyle, Vice-President Intermodal at Canadian Pacific. “We believe industrial product customers will be attracted to the consistency, efficiency and , reliability of our long-haul intermodal network.”
“The Raildecks solution provides a viable option to convert some of the industrial freight that is moving over the road to be transported on intermodal rail,” said Rick Jocson, CEO of Raildecks. “By converting a traditional over-the-road commodity to rail, Raildecks are reducing greenhouse gas emissions, freeing up major roads and highways, and reducing costs for shippers.”
“We are excited to be able to provide shippers with a brand new service offering,” stated Stan G. Dunford, Contrans’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “This will revolutionize the long haul flatbed market and will result in substantial efficiencies and savings for shippers.”
Canadian Pacific has been testing Raildecks’ 53ft collapsible, multimodal carriers over the summer at its Toronto Intermodal Facility in Vaughn, ON. The testing proved the concept, as pipe and other industrial products moved seamlessly on CP’s longhaul intermodal trains. Previously shippers relied on trucks to move these types of products over a long distance.