Canadian Pacific has launched its first train of international containers from Port Saint John in what is described as a rare opportunity for cargo owners to ship their products to key North American markets.
The inaugural train carrying containers from the Hapag-Lloyd vessel Detroit Express left Tuesday. The containers are bound for terminals on the CP network in Canada and the United States, including Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Chicago and Minneapolis.
“CP has been without access to a deep-water Atlantic Ocean port for a quarter-century, and today I’m pleased to deliver a simple message: We’re back,” said Keith Creel, president and CEO of CP, in a statement.
It comes just two months after CP completed its purchase of the Central Maine & Quebec Railway (CMQ), giving it port access in Saint John and Searsport, Maine, through connections with the New Brunswick Southern and Eastern Maine railways.
CP said it would invest $90 million over three years into the CMQ’s track infrastructure in Maine and Quebec.
Port Saint John is in the midst of a $205-million modernization project, which includes a new wharf, a terminal upgrade and a deeper shipping channel. The upgrades will double the port’s container capacity, deepen quayside draft and provide additional on-dock rail capacity.
Vice-president Jonathan Wahba said the Port Saint John connection gives shippers a “truly new and extremely compelling service” to reach North American markets.
“With a world-class terminal operator in DP World and CP’s investment in the CMQ, our customers will enjoy an unmatched value proposition that will benefit beneficial cargo owners for years to come,” said Wahba in a release.
CP said its route is the shortest between Atlantic Canada and key North American markets — more than 300 kilometres shorter than their competition. The company anticipates being able to offer 24-hour service between Saint John and Montreal by the end of the year.
Today, CP debuted its first international intermodal service through the @PortSaintJohn, N.B. The westbound train carries containers from the vessel Detroit Express headed to Canadian and U.S. destinations. CP is proud to serve Atlantic Canada. https://t.co/SUFgPJNbJp pic.twitter.com/DrLFhnfizb
— Canadian Pacific (@CanadianPacific) August 11, 2020
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