Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP) have announced an agreement allowing the Deltaport Division of a jointly-owned rail subsidiary to manage rail switching operations for their intermodal trains at Deltaport marine container terminal at Roberts Bank, 40 km south of Vancouver’s inner harbour.

CN, CP streamline rail switching at Deltaport

“Deltaport Division will streamline the logistics chain at the terminal, generating greater efficiencies in the overall rail and port operation,” said Keith Creel, CN executive vice president of operations. “These service and productivity gains support Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway Initiative, which aims to bolster the competitiveness of the nation’s west coast ports.”

CN and CP move approximately 70,000 teu a month into and out of Deltaport. Container cars must be switched into the terminal tracks for loading and unloading. Kathryn McQuade, CP’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said: “More specifically, we expect Deltaport Division will enhance the fluidity and capacity of both railways calling at Deltaport and deliver better service to our port and terminal partners within the Pacific Gateway.”