Introduction
The efficiency of the supply chain for refrigerated products is crucial to ensure freshness, quality, and food safety. However, inconsistency and variability in transit times have posed challenges in North America’s cold chain. Limited transportation options, border congestion, and constant unloading of products affect food quality and operational costs. Aware of this need, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), the only railway connecting Mexico, the United States, and Canada, and Americold Realty Trust, a global leader in temperature-controlled logistics, real estate, and value-added services, have formed a strategic alliance that will transform the distribution of food across North America.
The New Import/Export Facility in Kansas City
On August 12, a new refrigerated import/export facility was inaugurated in Kansas City, Missouri, with a $127 million investment in collaboration with CPKC. The 335,000 square-foot installation is Americold’s first on the rail network and serves as a key hub for the México Oeste Express (MMX), a premium intermodal service offering direct transportation between the Midwest United States and Mexico with competitive transit times.
Key Features of the New Facility
- On-site inspections to eliminate border delays
- Cargo capacity exceeding 25 tons per container to reduce road congestion
- A 500 km service radius supporting regional food flow
CPKC’s Contribution
CPKC provides one of North America’s largest and most modern fleets, comprising 1,000 domestic 53-foot refrigerated intermodal containers. The CP TempPro service ensures reliable door-to-door transit with temperature protection, offering a more competitive alternative to road transport for large-volume, long-distance shipments.
Benefits of the New Center
This new center brings significant advantages to the refrigerated food industry, including:
- Shorter transit times and increased efficiency in the supply chain for refrigerated products
- A direct route for temperature-controlled products via CPKC’s rail route, resulting in substantial cost savings for long-distance transportation of large volumes
- More sustainable transportation options with lower greenhouse gas emissions
- An integrated network for more reliable and secure transportation of temperature-sensitive products
- Job creation and economic growth in the local Kansas City community
Conclusion
This partnership solidifies CPKC’s role as the railway connecting North America, offering producers and distributors a comprehensive solution for temperature-sensitive product transportation under a safer, more efficient, and sustainable scheme. The future of the cold chain is already in motion, and CPKC, along with Americold, leads the way over rails.
