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CANADIAN Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) has revealed the 2816 Empress steam locomotive will travel from Canada, through the US and into Mexico departing Calgary, Alberta on April 14 2024, the one-year anniversary of CPKC's creation.

"Our unique, unrivaled railway network connects a continent and links Canada, the U.S. and Mexico," said Keith Creel, CPKC President and Chief Executive Officer. "On April 14 2023, we drove a ceremonial Final Spike completing that continental connection. We look forward to proudly celebrating that historic railway moment with a special tour starring the 2816, honoring our history and looking forward to an exciting future filled with opportunities for our railroaders, customers and communities."

Following a special anniversary event in Calgary on April 13 2024, the 2816 will depart Calgary on April 14 2024, traveling to stops in the following cities:

Moose Jaw, Sask.

Minot, N.D.

St. Paul, Minn.

Bensenville, Ill.

Davenport, Iowa

Kansas City, Mo.

Shreveport, La.

Laredo, Texas

Mexico City, Mex.

The public will be able to see the 2816 up close in these cities with additional details about the stops and related events available early in 2024.

"This 2816 steam tour will bring the story of our uniquely North American railway's history and compelling future to life for rail fans and visitors across our network," Creel added. "We look forward to celebrating in communities across our network."

The 2816, a 4-6-4 Hudson-type steam locomotive, was built in 1930 by Montreal Locomotive Works. It served as a roving steam-powered ambassador for Canadian Pacific throughout Canada and the U.S. before being placed in storage in 2012. Now, after a decade of slumber, the engine has been carefully prepared to once again travel the rails. The locomotive continues to undergo preparations for next year's tour, including equipping The Empress with Positive Train Control.

KISAN Rails was launched by the Indian Ministry of Railways to move perishables, including fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fishery and dairy products from production or surplus regions to consumption or deficient regions. Speedy movements ensure minimum damage during transit.

The railway is one of the most disciplined way of transport. While a truck, a ship and an aircraft can defy the orders of the central authority for movement, a railway train by design must necessarily follow the route assigned to it by central authority. This can ensure that goods reach the targeted destination without the threat and vulnerability of enroute diversion.

Why

Kisan Rails couldn’t take off ?

These trains were launched with much fanfare during COVID when the regular running of trains was suspended. This provided clear running paths to these trains besides vacant sprawling passenger platforms of Imdian Railways used to welcome them, where their cargo could be delivered.

All this however vanished, once the regular train services were reintroduced post-covid and passengers platforms became crowded again and paths became scarcer

How Kisan Rails could have helped to handle the tomato crisis and what is needed to revive them?

Kisan Rails can be an excellent logistical input to transport perishable. They can transport huge quantities of perishables goods in double quick time

Running Refrigerated container trains for trans-4 port of perishable goods, which can drop off loaded containers and pick up empty ones from timetabled stations which can be distribution hubs.

These refrigerated containers can also act as temporary warehouses for places where currently coldware houses are not available.

IR has large numbers of air-conditioned ICF coaches which are being condemned on account of their replacement by LHB/ VB trains.

Just as non-AC ICF coaches have been successfully converted as automobile carriers opening a new revenue stream for IR, old ICF design AC coaches can be converted into refrigerated parcel vans for transporting perishables. This will also add a new traffic stream to the revenues of the railways.

In addition to above there is a need to set up cold storages at rail heads. Until such time regular cold houses can be set up, refrigerated containers can be kept at rail heads which can double up as transportation cum warehouse modules for perishables.

Kisan Trains need to run as timetabled express trains with first- and last-mile connectivity to Kisan Mandis.

All this needs to be done by private enterprise by suitable enabling measures and support system.