CP sets record for grain movements in January

Canadian Pacific moved 2.09 million metric tons of Canadian grain and grain products in January, beating the railroad's January 2019 record by 200,000 metric tons.

CP officials cited the railroad's 8,500-foot high-efficiency product (HEP) train model, dedicated train program (DTP) and new high-efficiency hopper cars as significant factors in the new record.

The Class I now has more than 2,300 new high-capacity hopper cars in service and expects to operate 3,300 by year's end, CP officials said in a press release.

The new hopper cars can carry 10 percent more volume and 15 percent more weight compared to the older cars they are replacing. Combined with the additional length of the 8,500-foot grain train model, a HEP train has more than 40 percent additional capacity than the 7,000-foot model.

The DTP provides shippers with an incentive to load and unload more quickly, driving increased overall grain movements, company officials said.

"CP's commitment to providing our customers with safe and efficient service continues to create positive momentum across the Canadian grain supply chain," said Joan Hardy, CP's vice president of sales and marketing, grain and fertilizers. "This record-setting performance was achieved through close collaboration across the supply chain and the efforts of our world-class operating team."