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(CPR issued the following press release on April 21.)

MONTREAL — Canadian Pacific Railway has reached agreement with Canadian and U.S. customs agencies to install significant new security measures at selected rail border points.

Under a Declaration of Principles announced this week, both CPR and CN have committed to work with Canadian and U.S. customs agencies to install the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS), an x-ray system that will examine U.S.-bound rail shipments at the Canada-U.S. border. New radiation detection devices and more stringent advanced electronic reporting requirements will also be introduced as part of the agreement.

The joint government-industry initiative is the culmination of several months of discussion about ways to enhance the security of U.S.-bound rail shipments while ensuring uninterrupted access to the U.S. market for CPR customers. These discussions were part of the larger process of implementing the Smart Border Declaration adopted by Canada and the United States in December 2001.

Advanced reporting of data to the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection becomes increasingly important under the new agreement. Customs will continue to rely on customers’ advanced manifest information to conduct risk assessments and targeted inspections. You will receive further information shortly about the enhanced data requirements.

Starting later this year, U.S. Customs will install VACIS and radiation detection equipment at CPR border crossings at: Kingsgate/Eastport, North Portal/Portal, Emerson/Noyes, Windsor/Detroit, Buffalo/Fort Erie and Rouses Point/Champlain.

A CPR project team has started working with Canadian and U.S. customs agencies on the phased installation of screening equipment at border crossings. The team is making every effort to ensure the new systems are implemented smoothly. We anticipate minimal impact to CPR operations and our customers.

CPR will issue periodic updates on the installation of new equipment and any changes relating to customers’ shipments or processes. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact your account manager or customer service representative.