CPKC, Americold Partner on Cold Storage Facility Co-Location Initiative
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
(Screen Grab Courtesy of CPKC)
Americold Realty Trust, Inc. (Americold) will co-locate its warehouse facilities on Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s (CPKC) transnational, single-line service network, the two companies reported June 21. The intent, they said, is to build the first facility in Kansas City, Mo., bringing together “cold storage and value-added-services with expedited intermodal transportation solutions connecting key U.S. Midwest and Mexico markets.”
CPKC and Americold—an owner and/or operator of 243 temperature-controlled warehouses in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and South America—said they are working to streamline border crossing procedures and to provide a more seamless experience for shippers. The railroad offers a fleet of TempPro™ temperature-protected intermodal containers for door-to-door transit.
“CPKC is pleased to collaborate with Americold to provide innovative solutions for our customers throughout North America with this Kansas City facility, the first of many we intend to build in the years to come,” CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel said. “CPKC’s new Mexico Midwest Express (MMX) premium intermodal service, combined with one of the largest fleets of refrigerated containers in the industry, and now this collaboration, will further elevate this world-class service offering moving a range of food and other products to and from Mexico.”
“The combination of Americold’s vast North American facilities network and world-class coldchain operating model with CPKC’s new MMX intermodal service and refrigerated assets will produce a new and unique offering to the food supply chain,” said George Chappelle, CEO at Americold.
CPKC last month announced it was adding 1,000 new 53-foot refrigerated intermodal containers to its network, more than doubling its existing fleet and “bringing more shipping options to customers using the expanding MMX premium intermodal service.”
CPKC described MMX as “North America’s first single-line rail service offering for refrigerated shippers from the Midwest to Mexico, a market currently served by trucks.”
The MMX temperature-controlled service will move fresh and frozen produce, baked goods, candy and other food products northbound and beef, chicken and pork to southern markets, according to CPKC. MMX trains currently link Chicago, Kansas City, Texas markets, Monterrey and San Luis Potosi, offering third-day service to/from Laredo, fourth-day service to/from Monterrey and 4.5-day service to/from San Luis Potosi. MMX provides transit time of 98 hours from Chicago to San Luis Potosi, which CPKC said is a day faster than the nearest competitor.
In related developments, Kansas City-based Tiger Cool Express LLC has abruptly halted operations and closed its doors, effective immediately, according to a LinkedIn post from former Vice President of Sales Jared Nye, the Kansas City Business Journal reported on June 14. Also, Union Pacific, CN and GMXT (Grupo Mexico Transportes, comprising Ferromex, Ferrosur and IMEX) in April introduced Mexico-U.S.-Canada “Falcon Premium” interline intermodal service for automotive parts, food, FAK (freight all kinds), home appliances and temperature-controlled products.
