CP: Precision railroading can build a leading transcontinental railway

Canadian Pacific (CP) has released a white paper, Precision Railroading: Using the CP Model to Build a Leading Transcontinental Railway, detailing how the precision railroading philosophy – which has been used successfully to elevate CP from industry laggard to leader over the last four years – would transform Norfolk Southern Corp. (NS) and eventually build a leading transcontinental railway in North America.

“Politicians, shippers and others are calling for a strong, healthy and high performing rail system yet no one has the stomach to challenge the status quo,” CP CEO E. Hunter Harrison said. “Clearly, moving goods reliably and efficiently is top of mind for everyone in the industry; we believe precision railroading and a CP-NS combination address those challenges.”

Precision railroading has enabled CP to lower its operating ratio dramatically, improve service, reinvest record amounts in its network and in the communities it serves, and create significant shareholder value in a very short time.

CP looks forward to the US Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) decision on its petition for a declaratory order confirming the viability of the proposed voting trust structure, an option CP has proposed as the fastest way for NS shareholders to receive consideration for their shares.

CP believes that all stakeholders will benefit if the proposed transaction is evaluated on its merits and based on a full record that includes the opportunity for all interested parties to comment within the STB’s prescribed framework, free from political interference. CP remains hopeful that the STB will be able to offer clarity that will allow NS shareholders to make an informed decision on CP’s pending resolution.

This proposed merger addresses capacity challenges; provides better, faster service for shippers – and at a lower cost; and enhances competition by ending bottleneck pricing and provides modified terminal access. The end result would be a single-line, transcontinental option that improves market access and ensures the timely and efficient flow of freight – supporting the North American economy now and into the future.

Edited from press release by Harleigh Hobbs

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/handling/08042016/cp-precision-railroading-can-build-a-leading-transcontinental-railway-552/