20.August, Montreal QC – Months earlier than planned when CP acquired the CMQ, trains CP #250 and CP #251 will each run daily between Montreal and Brownville Jct. EMRY/NBSR will pull the train between BVJ and Saint John container Port.

Canadian Pacific’s CMQ integration plan caught a wave when several container ships were diverted from Montreal to Saint John during the recent strike at two Port of Montreal terminals. In response to the immediate need, CP started on 08.Aug. to move the diverted intermodal traffic in combined freight trains (local Montreal – Farnham; #250/#251 to BVJ), until 19.Aug.

Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 375 and the Association des Employeurs Maritimes reached an agreement to end the strike on 23.August. Nonetheless many ships continued to unload their Montreal cargo at alternate ports, including PSJ.

The unexpectedly early demand for dedicated intermodal service from PSJ stressed CP’s available crews and power. As Montreal diversions continue in the short term, and as strategic traffic changes have accelerated due to the strike, CP has called upon furloughed workers elsewhere on the system to relocate to the CMQ property to handle the traffic. Until resources shortages are resolved, the trains will include merchandise loads.

The planned schedules as of 20.August are as follows:

Train 250, Operating Daily:

Dep.    St. Luc QC                        1230 hrs
Dep.    Farnham QC                     1600
Dep.    Jackman QC                      0245
Arr.     Brownville Jct. ME              0645

Train 251, Operating Daily:

Dep.    Brownville Jct.                  1130
Dep.    Jackman                           1730
Dep.    Farnham                           0605
Arr.     St. Luc                              0740

CP has indicated that a dedicated autorack train would also soon be added to the route in the coming weeks, though no firm date provided. {R&P exclusive sources}