CALGARY, (June 6, 2005) — The first of 25 projects to increase Western rail capacity has been completed by Canadian Pacific Railway.

Under a $160-million program, CP plans to increase train capacity on the railway’s network between the Prairies and the Port of Vancouver. An 8,500- foot-long track has been built at CPR’s Coquitlam yard near Vancouver for trains of Canadian bulk commodities destined for ocean-going ships calling at Vancouver.

The company stated in a press release it is expanding its capacity to move more bulk commodities and resources to the Port of Vancouver for Asian markets that are hungry for Canada’s raw materials. CPR is also moving increasing volumes of finished goods, shipped in containers arriving from Asia, to consumers in the U.S. and Canada.

The new track enables CPR to stage trains close to the port until the designated ship arrives. Previously, trains awaiting ship arrival would be staged in sidings, which are valuable passing lanes build alongside the mainline. The new staging track will leave sidings open for moving trains, improve locomotive utilization, enhance overall fluidity in this area and improve service to the Port of Vancouver.

Almost all of the 25 capacity expansion projects are now under way and are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year.

CPR will be able to run an additional four trains daily, or more than 400 freight cars a day between the Prairies and the Port of Vancouver — a 12 percent increase in capacity.

The expansion involves building and extending sidings, laying sections of double track, improving signal systems and installing staging tracks and track-to-track crossovers.