THE Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) will be the Canadian intermodal provider for Contrans innovative "Raildecks" multimodal flat rack containers that allow the transport of large and awkward loads, such as pipe and other industrial products, in special collapsible frames that now move by truck.

    As an open container with no ceiling or side walls these units can be collapsed for cost effective repositioning and storage, said CP, which has been testing Raildecks' 53-foot collapsible, multimodal carriers over the summer at its Toronto intermodal facility.

    Testing was started with a BNSF programme last year providing the intermodal rail expertise, Boyd Brothers providing the traditional flatbed expertise and Raildecks Intermodal providing the equipment and service.

    Based on the success of the first 60 loads, the programme has extended to all intermodal BNSF terminals. In addition, test loads have moved on the Norfolk Southern and the Union Pacific network.

    "We believe industrial product customers will be attracted to the consistency, efficiency and reliability of our long-haul intermodal network," said Calgary-based CP intermodal vice president John McBoyle.

    Said Calgary-based Raildecks CEO Rick Jocson: "By converting a traditional over-the-road commodity to rail, Raildecks are freeing up major roads and highways, and reducing costs for shippers."

    Another partner is Contrans of Woodstock, Ontario, which provides trailer types, vans, flatbeds, tanks and bulk in Canada and parts of the US.

    Said Contrans CEO Stan Dunford: "This will revolutionise the long haul flatbed market and will result in substantial efficiencies and savings for shippers."

    The Raildecks container is light, durable and very rigid. Each deck comes with 15 sliding winches, 26 chain tie-down points, 10 lateral pipe stakes and a hydraulic power system.

    A simple remote control is used to move the support arms from the standard transport position to a 52-foot loading position or to a fully collapsed position. The tare weight of the US model Raildecks container is 10,750 lbs and the Canadian model is 11,800 lbs.

    When the payload arrives at the rail terminal, it in gates as a standard steel container does. The driver positions the load in a staging area. Before rail transport, the fully loaded Raildecks container is disconnected from the chassis. The lift operator picks up the container using a WTP (wide top pick) configuration and places it into the well car in the top or bottom position.

    At the destination terminal, a driver is notified 48 hours in advance that the Raildecks container will be ready for pickup, said CP. The rail hub operations team unloads the Raildeck container from the well car and loads it on to a chassis, and off it goes.

(Source:shippingazette)