Canadian Pacific has launched the first dedicated international intermodal train between the Mexican Pacific coast port of Lázaro Cárdenas and the U.S. Midwest.
The railways says the Lázaro Cárdenas to Chicago train was born out of the need to avoid excessive delays due to the “unprecedented and ongoing supply chain challenges affecting North America’s West Coast”.
The first train carrying containers offloaded at Lázaro Cárdenas arrived March 8 at CP’s Bensenville Yard in the Chicago area. Total transit time from vessel arrival at Lazaro to train arrival in Chicago was just seven days.
CP and KCS cooperated as interline carriers to offer a new intermodal service to meet market demand.
“This Mexico-to-Midwest train is a proof of concept and a sign of things to come if a combined Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) network is approved by the Surface Transportation Board (STB),” said Keith Creel, CP president and CEO.
Creel added that a potential new Mexico Midwest Express interline service would help to provide alternatives to using clogged west Coast ports. If the STB approves the combination, CPKC intends to offer regular Lázaro Cárdenas to Chicago service on a single-line basis.
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