Penhold Alberta - Canadian Pacific is upgrading its rail lines from Calgary to Edmonton as part of its ongoing efforts to increase customer service and track maintenance.
 
As part of its $5-billion investment into capital programs over a five-year period, the tracks near Red Deer are scheduled for a fall 2014 completion date.
 
"CP is putting between $1.2 and $1.4 billion nationally into upgrading network rail infrastructure in 2014," said Salem Woodrow of communications and public affairs for CP Rail.
 
"Our commitment to the line includes new infrastructure which may include building new and longer sidings or replacing existing ones."
 
A drive along the Highway 2A corridor near Penhold and Innisfail reveals that lengths of track are being pulled and replaced, then stored in rail cars.
 
Piles of track plates and lengths of rail dated 2013 can also be seen alongside the existing tracks.
 
"The rails are being replaced with heavier duty steel which means that our trains can have greater capacity," said Woodrow.
 
"At present, the Red Deer to Innisfail route sees between 14 and 19 trains daily but that could change any time. An upgraded rail system means that, if and when the need arises for us to increase shipping frequency and loads, we will be ready to respond in a timely fashion."
 
Penhold mayor Dennis Cooper has been watching the construction for some time now.
 
"During infrastructure upgrading, the crews found some rail plates that dated back to 1899," said Cooper.
 
"We tried to get them for the museum but were unable. They would have been a good addition to our rail car exhibit."
 
He noted that CP ships a wide variety of goods via rail, all of which will pass through Penhold.
 
"In Penhold, as some of our town is directly adjacent to the tracks, they will likely see increased traffic due to the upgrade," he said.
 
"With CP's response to the recent grain shipping crisis, a greater capacity will be of benefit to local farmers and producers."
 
In a recent press release from CP, CEO Hunter Harrison discussed meeting with grain suppliers and shipping agents regarding supply chain efficiencies and what CP was doing to address the issues.
 
"The track upgrades allow us to support further growth by our customers and improving supply chain logistics," said Woodrow.
 
"This is a long-term investment that will benefit our customers now and in the future."

Tim Lasuita.