TransCanada is considering exporting crude oil from Canada to the United States by rail rather by pipeline, as its major oil pipeline project, Keystone XL, is suffering political delays. The Keystone XL Pipeline is a proposed 1,897 km crude oil pipeline beginning in Hardisty, Alberta (Canada), and extending south to Steele City, Nebraska (United States), and possibly to Cushing in Oklahoma. It has been awaiting for a federal approval for more than five years and is currently facing new hurdles over the route in Nebraska. Exporting crude oil by train would enable to serve customers, even if TransCanada would need to invest in rail infrastructures, as the current network would be insufficient to reach Keystone XL oil exports. In the last quarter of 2013, Canadian crude-by-rail exports rose to more than 146,000 bbl/d, which represents a 83% increase.
Source: TransCanada