CP opens Toronto “super shop”

Canadian Pacfic on Thursday highlighted completed capital investments made to enhance its Locomotive Reliability Centre (LRC) in Toronto.

Completion of the second phase of CP’s Locomotive Reliability Centre strategy will reduce the number of locomotive repair facilities from eight to four highly efficient “super shops” with improved repair capabilities, the Class I railroad said.

The Toronto LRC joins similar centers in Calgary, Winnipeg, and St. Paul, Minn. Once all three phases of the strategy are complete, CP will perform most of its scheduled and unscheduled locomotive repairs in these facilities.

CP said LRCs are comprehensive facilities that perform all locomotive maintenance, including: traction motors, wheels and heavy repairs such as engine and turbo change outs. The four LRCs are geographically aligned with CP’s major transportation hubs, ensuring steady supply of highly reliable locomotives for freight operations.

“The upgraded, consolidated facilities coupled with the introduction of a lean continuous improvement approach, allows for standardized processes and practices and enables improvements in locomotive availability and reliability,” said Mike Franczak, executive vice-president, Operations. “These locomotive repair centers operate 7/24 and are capable of doing all needed work for all locomotive types.”

“Additional benefits include reduced transit times to shops, quicker shop turn times and better quality repairs that drive a more consistent product to CP’s customers at a lower cost to the railroad,” Franczak added.