Date/Photographer unknown - Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.

25 April 2012

CPR The Safest

West Vancouver British Columbia - In recent weeks there has been considerable coverage in the National Post and other newspapers about Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. and the control of the company taken over by Pershing and William Ackman.
 
Most of the coverage has been about operating ratio.
 
Little or nothing has been said about the fact that Canadian Pacific is North America's leading railway in safety.
 
Nothing is said about how Canadian National stands in this regard.
 
The little that has been said about customer satisfaction indicates that Canadian Pacific is better than Canadian National in this category.
 
The condition and reliability of the fixed plant is something that is difficult to measure.
 
However, recent derailments and safety comparisons would indicate that Canadian Pacific is better than Canadian National in this regard.
 
A lower operating ratio may be good for the short-term gain of the stockholders, but not for the long-term good of the railway.
 
Safety, customer satisfaction, well-maintained, reliable, fixed plant and rolling stock, and a high standard of business principles should not be sacrificed to lower the operating ratio.
 
Robert R. Morrish - P.Eng., retired chief engineer, Canadian Pacific Railway.