Canadian Railroads > Question: CN-CP Paired Track

As I understand it, CN and CP operate their mainlines through the Fraser River Canyon in BC as paired track. That is, one main for westbounds and the other for eastbounds. If this is so, which main is for east and which for west? What are the end points for the paired track operation?

Any info is greatly appreciated!
--Steve Schmollinger



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/13 11:18 by schmo.

The west end of directional running is at Mission/Matsqui BC. Eastbounds use the CP Cascade and Thompson Subs to reach Napa/Coho just west of Ashcroft BC. Westbounds run on CN's Ashcroft and Yale Subs. One key thing to listen for on the scanner is any mention of ACOT (against current of traffic.) It's extraordinarily rare to find an eastbound on CN, while westbounds on CP happen once in a while, particularly late in the month when CP is nearing the tonnage cap for their traffic on CN rails. Good luck when you make it up there, make sure you share results here!!

Darren Boes
Lethbridge, AB
Southern Alberta Railfan

It's Fraser, not Frazer or Frazier.

KG

sarailfan wrote
"The west end of directional running is at Mission/Matsqui BC. Eastbounds use the CP Cascade and Thompson Subs to reach Napa/Coho just west of Ashcroft BC. Westbounds run on CN's Ashcroft and Yale Subs. One key thing to listen for on the scanner is any mention of ACOT (against current of traffic.) It's extraordinarily rare to find an eastbound on CN, while westbounds on CP happen once in a while, particularly late in the month when CP is nearing the tonnage cap for their traffic on CN rails....."

I was interested to read that there is a tonnage quota on CN rails. I would therefore presume that there is also a tonnage quota for CN while on CP rails? And EHH rumoured to be pulling up some sidings too?

Sid.

I'm not surprised there are quotas. CN and CP get along about as well as cats and dogs, so it's remarkable that they've been able to negotiate any track sharing arrangements at all. The Ottawa Valley consolidation fell through nearly two decades ago, and now CN is gone and CP is disappearing too.

They also consolidated traffic between Parry Sound and Sudbury, and as far as I know that's working pretty well. But east of Thunder Bay CN and CP look like a double-track railway along Lake Superior for a number of miles, but since CN runs little traffic on their railroad, they have no interest in helping out the at-capacity CP with a track sharing arrangement.

The sidings coming up has been documented on this board already. Run a search for Katz and it should come up.

I don't recall where I heard about the tonnage quota, but observation of traffic patterns (back when I living in BC) seemed to confirm it. I never have heard about a quota for CN running on CP, but it would not surprise me. Don't forget the bulk of the heavy traffic (loaded coal/grain/potash/sulfur) runs west, while lighter tonnage empties return east over CP.

Darren Boes
Lethbridge, AB
Southern Alberta Railfan

VIA #1 and #2 even make different station stops due to paired track. Same in Perry Sound. Different stations used depending on direction.

That's a good point that I hadn't thought about.
Loaded westbound, good tonnage, empty eastbound,
much lighter tonnage. Thanks.
Sid.

There is a financial issue regarding the paired trackage operation also. Although the intermodal traffic sees loads both ways, many of the bulk commodities involve loads westbound and empties eastbound. Loaded trains result in considerably more wear and tear on the CN Ashcroft and Yale Subdivisions.

At the time "co-production" was initiated between CP and CN in this territory, both railways announced they had reached agreement on the issue, but I have never heard details of how CN is compensated.