ORIENT Overseas Container Line (OOCL) has signed a major long-term agreement with CP Rail System (CPRS) covering rail distribution and terminal services throughout the latter's extensive intermodal system.
R J Ritchie, president of CP Rail System, and C L Ting, president of OOCL's North American division, signed the long-term agreement in Montreal.
OOCL's container vessels provide service between the port of Vancouver and countries including Hong Kong, China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
CPRS's role in the through transportation system provided by OOCL will be to provide the inland rail service between the port of Vancouver, western Canadian points and Toronto and Montreal.
Included in the OOCL traffic in Landbridge cargo moving between Asia and Europe, with CPRS providing the rail link across Canada, joining OOCL's Asia-Vancouver service with their weekly Montreal to Europe service.
OOCL's Vancouver traffic, the largest container volume through that port, had previously been carried by Canadian National.
Mr Ritchie said: 'CPRS was very pleased to be part of OOCL's expanding trade between Asia, the Pacific Rim and Canada, and to build on the business relationship that has existed between our two companies for the past 27 years.
