CP launches direct rail service from Vancouver to Detroit

Canadian Pacific today announced the launch of a direct rail transportation service between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Detroit.

The new service leverages CP's newest transload facility in Vancouver and its live-lift operation at Portal, North Dakota. The service is expected to cut transit times from the West Coast to Detroit by as much as 48 hours compared with nearby competitors, CP officials said in a press release.

The new service runs from Vancouver to Detroit seven days a week.

"CP recognizes our customers' need to get their goods to the key markets of the U.S. as efficiently as possible," said Hardy Pearson, senior vice-president for the Midwest and Northeast for Hapag-Lloyd. "Simply put, shorter transit times, a more fluid border crossing and near seamless movement through Chicago means not only lower costs but better, more consistent access to the right markets."

CP started live lift operations at the Portal border crossing in the second quarter. The new service enables CP to lift single containers off trains for inspection by customs authorities rather that having entire intermodal rail cars — which can carry up to 15 containers — held up. That process will eliminate delays to containers not flagged for inspection, which will helps make it easier and faster for customers to do cross-border business, CP officials said.