Canadian Pacific (CP) has launched its 8,500-foot High Efficiency Product (HEP) train featuring new, “highly efficient” Canadian-made hopper cars. HEP trains can move approximately 44 per cent more per train than prior generations, the company says.
The hopper cars have a capacity 10 per cent greater by weight and 15 percent more volume than the older-model cars. It means the new cars carry the extra product on a frame five per cent shorter than the older models.
The unveiling of the new cars took place at the G3 Pasqua elevator near Moose Jaw, Sask. The elevator features a fast loading loop track, meaning CP can keep locomotives attached to the train during loading, and those same locomotives are in place to roll out once loading is complete.
“This HEP train will become the new gold standard — driving further efficiencies for farmers, shippers and the entire grain supply chain,” says Joan Hardy, CP’s vice-president sales and marketing – grain and fertilizers.
By the end of this year, CP will have approximately 500 new hopper cars in service, and that number will grow to 1,000 by spring 2019, the company says. Over the next four years, CP plans to purchase a total of 5,900 new hopper cars.
