
Western Corridor Capacity Expansion
New, expanded tracks speed transport and boost trade
Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) | Canada
Conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design
$160 million construction cost
Challenges
- In response to a surge in trade with Asia, CP embarked on a $160 million track-expansion program between Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and the Port of Vancouver, British Columbia.
- 26 separate double-track and siding-extension projects stretched across three Canadian provinces.
- Design sensitivity was exercised with respect to important First Nation and environmental issues.
Solutions
- Approximately 56 miles of new track were constructed, including 89 turnouts.
- Test plans, drawings, and software were created for 170 signal locations: shop-wired, 98; field- rewired, 72.
- A variety of civil design and construction techniques were used to address different issues in Prairie and Rocky Mountain terrain.
- Hatch’s services included conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design in the civil, track, signals, and communication disciplines, as well as program and construction management.
- Our services extended to developing tender packages, preparing bid evaluations, administering construction contracts and project controls.
Highlights
- The expansion increased capacity by 12 percent in Western Canada, representing an increase of about 400 freight cars per day.
- CPR selected Hatch on a sole-source basis to provide program, design, and construction management services to deliver this fast-track project.
- Several Hatch staff were awarded the CP Gold Ingenuity Award to commend them for their performance on the project.
Project numbers
- $160 million construction cost.
- The expansion increased capacity by 12 percent in Western Canada, representing an increase of about 400 freight cars per day.
- 26 separate double-track and siding-extension projects stretched across three Canadian provinces.
- Approximately 56 miles of new track was constructed, including 89 turnouts.
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