Room to Grow: CPKC designates nine Site Ready industrial development locations

Rhea-AI Summary

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) has announced the certification of nine Site Ready rail-served locations across North America as part of its Room to Grow strategy. These locations span over 6,000 acres of developable land across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

The Site Ready Program, developed in partnership with Burns & McDonnell, transforms underutilized land into prime industrial sites. The locations offer key advantages including strategic proximity to major markets, ready-to-develop land with reduced timelines, and comprehensive CPKC support.

The initiative builds on CPKC's existing development projects, including a new auto compound near Dallas, the Americold cold storage facility in Kansas City, and a multi-commodity transload facility in Denton, Texas. These developments demonstrate CPKC's commitment to attracting investment and driving economic growth in rail-served communities.

Positive

• Strategic expansion with 9 new certified rail-served locations across North America
• Access to 6,000 acres of developable land across three countries
• Reduced development timelines for new industrial projects
• Multiple ongoing development projects demonstrating successful implementation

Negative

• None.

Insights

Real Estate Development Expert

CPKC's Site Ready program strategically monetizes 6,000 acres of land assets, potentially creating long-term revenue streams through industrial development along rail corridors.

CPKC's announcement of nine certified Site Ready locations represents a structured approach to monetizing underutilized land assets across its North American network. The program targets the transformation of portions of the company's 6,000 acres of developable land into rail-served industrial sites designed for efficient development.

The collaboration with Burns & McDonnell, a global engineering firm, adds credibility to the site certification process, suggesting these locations have undergone professional site diligence and master planning. This certification addresses a key market need: industrial developers and companies often face lengthy entitlement and site preparation phases that delay project timelines.

The program's emphasis on "strategic locations" with proximity to transportation hubs indicates CPKC is targeting high-value industrial corridors. Rail-served industrial sites typically command premium values in today's logistics-focused real estate market, particularly as companies seek to strengthen and diversify supply chains.

CPKC's reference to existing developments demonstrates execution capability - the Dallas auto compound, Americold cold storage facility in Kansas City, and multi-commodity transload facility in Denton provide tangible examples of the company's industrial development model. These projects suggest a template for how CPKC envisions monetizing its newly certified sites.

The program's structure follows established practices among transportation companies to generate multiple revenue streams from land assets - potential income from land sales/leases coupled with long-term rail volumes from on-site industrial operations.

Transportation Industry Analyst

CPKC leverages its unique trinational network to attract industrial customers, creating captive rail volume through strategic land development across North America.

The Site Ready Program demonstrates CPKC's strategic approach to non-rail revenue generation while simultaneously cultivating future rail volumes. By certifying nine development-ready locations across its network, CPKC is effectively creating infrastructure for captive customers - businesses physically connected to their rail lines.

This initiative leverages a key competitive advantage: CPKC's trinational network spanning Canada, the US, and Mexico following the CP-KCS merger. For manufacturers and distributors operating across the USMCA trade zone, these sites offer logistical efficiencies through single-railroad service across North America.

The program aligns with industry trends where Class I railroads increasingly function as comprehensive logistics providers rather than pure transportation companies. Each industrial tenant that locates at these sites potentially represents decades of rail volume - a valuable proposition in an industry where organic growth can be challenging.

The highlighted success stories provide evidence of execution: the Dallas auto compound, Kansas City cold storage facility, and Denton transload facility demonstrate CPKC's ability to match industrial needs with appropriate locations and rail service. These facilities create "sticky" customer relationships that extend beyond traditional transportation services.

From a competitive perspective, this approach helps CPKC defend against trucking alternatives by physically embedding customers alongside rail infrastructure while potentially generating additional revenue streams through land development.

Site Ready Program supports efficient project development, expansions for rail-served businesses

CALGARY, AB, April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) (CPKC) said today it has certified its first nine specially-designated Site Ready rail-served locations across North America, all uniquely positioned for efficient industrial development as part of CPKC's successful Room to Grow strategy.

"With Room to Grow on more than 6,000 acres of developable land in Canada, the United States and Mexico across our unrivalled network, we are uniquely positioned to support our customers in new industrial development solutions that drive economic growth across the continent," said John Brooks, CPKC Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "Our nine Site Ready locations provide the ideal platform for businesses seeking to efficiently build new or expand existing operations, creating new value and capitalizing on the economic opportunities presented by the reach of our North American network."

The Site Ready Program transforms underutilized land into prime industrial sites ready for development, unlocking significant economic potential for both businesses and communities. The Site Ready locations, developed and certified in collaboration with third-party global engineering and construction firm Burns & McDonnell, are selected to support long-term operational success by offering reduced development timelines, built-in rail access and larger size acreages.

"Burns & McDonnell is proud to collaborate with CPKC on the development of the Site Ready Program, which transforms underutilized land tracts into prime, rail-served industrial development sites," said Courtney Dunbar, CEcD, EDFP, AICP, Site Selection Director at Burns & McDonnell. "By aligning site diligence, rail-service capabilities, functional master planning and targeted capital improvements, the program positions CPKC Site Ready properties to attract significant industrial investment. This initiative showcases the transformative power of strategic site planning to unlock economic potential and drive sustainable growth across North America."

The nine new Site Ready locations offer several key advantages:

• Strategic Locations: Proximity to major markets and transportation hubs or other unique regional advantages.
• Ready-to-Develop Land: Available for immediate construction with reduced timelines.
• Comprehensive CPKC Support: Assistance from planning to operations.
• Economic Growth: Job creation and increased local investment.

The Site Ready Program builds on CPKC's successful Room to Grow economic development efforts across its combined network optimizing land assets to create value and drive growth. By leveraging developable land, CPKC unlocks new capacity and creates innovative supply chain solutions through projects such as the opening of a new auto compound near Dallas, Texas; the Americold cold storage facility nearing completion in Kansas City, Mo.; and the multi-commodity transload facility under development in Denton, Texas.

Across the network, Room to Grow and these projects demonstrate CPKC's ability to attract significant investment, volume growth and economic development in local rail-served communities.

To learn more about CPKC's Room To Grow strategies and Site Ready locations, or to explore rail-served economic development opportunities, visit cpkcr.com/RoomToGrow.

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws in both the U.S. and Canada. Any statements about CPKC's expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, targets, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions, information and statements about possible future events, conditions and results of operations or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. Forward-looking information in this report includes, but is not limited to, statements in respect of: the utilization, investment in, and efficient industrial development of the designated Site Ready locations, if at all, and any potential economic and business growth, innovation stemming therefrom; benefits to communities in connection with the Site Ready locations, if at all; and the key advantages anticipated to result from the Site Ready locations. The forward-looking information that may be in this news release is based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, having regard to CPKC's experience and its perception of historical trends, and includes, but is not limited to, expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions relating to: changes in business strategies; efficient use and development of the Site Ready locations; North American and global economic growth and conditions; commodity demand growth; commodity prices and interest rates; performance of our assets and equipment; sufficiency of our budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out our business plan; geopolitical conditions; applicable laws, regulations and government policies; the availability and cost of labour, labour disruptions, services and infrastructure; and the satisfaction by third parties of their obligations to CPKC.  Forward-looking information is often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "anticipates", "aims", "strives", "seeks", "believes", "can", "could", "may", "predicts", "potential", "should", "will", "estimates", "plans", "mileposts", "projects", "continuing", "ongoing", "expects", "intends" and similar words or phrases suggesting future outcomes. 

Although CPKC believes the expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking information presented herein are reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Current conditions, economic and otherwise, render assumptions, although reasonable when made, subject to greater uncertainty. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information as actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking information. By its nature, CPKC's forward-looking information involves inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward looking information, including, but not limited to, the following factors changes in business strategies; general North American and global economic, credit and business conditions; the effects of competition and pricing pressures; industry capacity; shifts in market demand; changes in commodity prices; inflation; changes in laws and regulations, including regulation of rates; changes in taxes and tax rates; potential increases in maintenance and operating costs; uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation; labour disputes; timing of completion of capital and maintenance projects; currency and interest rate fluctuations; effects of changes in market conditions; and various events that could disrupt operations, including severe weather, droughts, floods, avalanches and earthquakes as well as security threats and governmental response to them, and technological changes.

The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.  These and other factors are detailed from time to time in reports filed by CPKC with securities regulators in Canada and the United States. Reference should be made to "Item 1A - Risk Factors" and "Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Forward-Looking Information" in CPKC's annual and interim reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on current expectations, estimates and projections and it is possible that predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forms of forward-looking information will not be achieved by CPKC. Except as required by law, CPKC undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information, or the foregoing assumptions and risks affecting such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About CPKC

With its global headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Canada, CPKC is the first and only single-line transnational railway linking Canada, the United States and México, with unrivaled access to major ports from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf Coast to Lázaro Cárdenas, México. Stretching approximately 20,000 route miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC provides North American customers unparalleled rail service and network reach to key markets across the continent. CPKC is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpkcr.com to learn more about the rail advantages of CPKC. CP-IR

About Burns & McDonnell Working from more than 75 offices around the world, Burns & McDonnell designs and builds critical infrastructure. Our family of companies — driven by engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists — delivers projects grounded in safety and a desire to make a difference as we make our clients successful. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned. Learn more.

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SOURCE CPKC

FAQ

What are the key benefits of CPKC's Site Ready Program for businesses?

The program offers strategic locations near major markets, ready-to-develop land with reduced timelines, comprehensive CPKC support, and opportunities for economic growth through job creation and local investment.

How many acres of developable land does CPKC's Room to Grow strategy cover?

CPKC's Room to Grow strategy covers more than 6,000 acres of developable land across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

What major development projects is CPKC currently working on?

CPKC is developing a new auto compound near Dallas, an Americold cold storage facility in Kansas City, and a multi-commodity transload facility in Denton, Texas.

Who is CPKC partnering with for the Site Ready Program development?

CPKC is partnering with Burns & McDonnell, a global engineering and construction firm, for the development and certification of Site Ready locations.