Amtrak and Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP)today announced an agreement with Amtrak supporting the proposed combination of CP and Kansas City Southern (KCS) railways.

CP has consistently received an A rating from Amtrak in its annual host railroad report card, recognizing its industry-leading on-time performance record. CP is also the first Class I railroad to complete 100 percent certification of its Amtrak schedules to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB).

CP has committed to maintaining its industry-leading role as a host railroad and to cooperating with Amtrak to implement its long-term strategic vision to bring new and expanded intercity passenger rail service to more North Americans, including:

• Increased frequency on the Hiawatha Service between Chicago and Milwaukee.
• Extending Hiawatha Service from Milwaukee to St. Paul, Minn., to create a second round-trip on the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago corridor.
• Passenger service through the Detroit River Tunnel between Michigan and Ontario to Windsor and Toronto (with connections to VIA Rail Canada).

Subject to CP’s application for control of KCS being approved by the STB, the agreement also includes CP’s commitment to support Amtrak efforts to work with the Southern Rail Commission (SRC) and others for the first service in more than 50 years on two U.S. routes:

• Establish Amtrak service between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La.
• Study the potential for Amtrak service between Meridian, Miss., and Dallas.

Amtrak and CP will file their agreement as part of the docket in the CP-KCS proceeding at the STB.

-via Press Release