CPR West Cap Expansion

Project Highlights

37 miles of track construction
Built long sidings and yard expansions
Construction between Saskatchewan and Vancouver
Work completed next to active main line

Customer

Canadian Pacific Railway

Location

Vancouver, British Columbia

Category

Railroad & Industrial Services

Services

Construction & Rehabilitation

Provided By

PNR RailWorks worked side by side with Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) crews on the railway’s $160 million Western Capacity Expansion project.

PNR RailWorks played a pivotal role in expanding capacity on CPR's main line between Mosse Jaw, Saskatchewan, and Vancouver in British Columbia. Crews constructed several, long passing sidings and yard expansions as well as a second main line track from Saskatchewan through Calgary, Alberta, to Vancouver, totaling 37 miles of track. Work was completed amid ongoing train operations during the short May-to-October work season.

The project increased CPR’s rail capacity in this area by more than 400 freight cars per day to accommodate rapidly increasing imports and exports moving through the Port of Vancouver.

Unique Features

To facilitate rapid new track construction alongside mainline track in operation, PNR RailWorks developed an innovative concrete tie-laying process. A hydraulic hoist grabbed ties prearranged in groups of seven off stacked pallets at the work site. The hoist lowered the ties into position along a plumb line, automatically spreading them to the designated spacing. Workers then manually installed tie pads. After rail was threaded into place using a boom-equipped crane (Pettibone Speedswing) rolling along the adjacent track, workers manually installed the insulators and e-clips. Although not as fast as an automated new-track construction machine, this process was extremely efficient. Crews of about 15 workers laid up to 1,100 ties per day, while temporarily clearing the right of way of on-going traffic.