CP Rail closing Calgary maintenance centre, eliminating 130 jobs
by Canadian Manufacturing Daily Staff
Rail giant blaming Canadian Transportation Agency for forcing its hand in decision
CALGARY—Canadian Pacific Railway is closing a Calgary maintenance centre and laying off 130 workers, and the rail giant is blaming the industry regulator for the decision to do so.
According to CP, it plans to close its locomotive reliability centre at the Alyth yard in central Calgary “in the next number of months.”
The rail firm said the decision to shutter the 60-year-old centre was made after the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) issued an order last week directing CP to cease and desist “load testing” and idling at the centre between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. daily.
“This order poses productivity challenges for service and maintenance work of locomotives during this ordered time,” CP said in a statement.
The CTA order fails to recognize the 24-7 operational requirements and restricts the railway’s ability to provide service for customers in Calgary, throughout North America, and those relying on coastal ports for off-shore shipments.”
All locomotive repair and maintenance work conducted at the centre will be transitioned to other maintenance facilities on the CP network, the railway said.
