CN to invest in maintenance and expansion of tracks across Canada

The Canadian National Railway Company (CN) has announced that, as part of its strategic investments to support growing demand and enable supply chains, it plans to invest approximately $105 million (CAD) across Saskatchewan, $105 million across Manitoba, $20 million across New Brunswick and $10 million across Nova Scotia in 2020. The investments will focus on the replacement of rail and ties, as well as the maintenance of bridges, level crossings, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.

CN’s investments will create greater capacity, which supports reductions in its customer’s transportation supply chain GHG emissions, by encouraging the use of rail for long-haul needs. This reduces emissions, traffic congestion, accidents and burdens on public transportation infrastructure as one freight train can replace over 300 trucks from roads. Moving freight by rail instead of truck reduces GHG emissions by 75 per cent.  CN will continue to deploy important safety enhancing technologies across its network, such as autonomous technology.

Saskatchewan

The maintenance programme highlights for Saskatchewan include:             

• Replacement of more than 65 miles of rail
• Installation of over 145,000 new railroad ties
• Rebuilds of 12 road crossing surfaces
• Maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure.

Grains and fertilizers, especially potash, make up a substantial portion of the traffic handled by CN in this Prairie province. The traffic also reflects the increasing diversification of the Saskatchewan economy by handling growing volumes of consumer goods and specialty crops through CN’s intermodal terminals in Saskatoon and Canada’s first privately operated intermodal terminal located in the Chuka Creek Business Park in Regina. Both Saskatoon and Regina boast metals distribution facilities. Saskatoon also has an automotive distribution facility and a major rail classification yard. In Bienfait, there is a CargoFlo bulk handling facility as well as forest products and metals distribution centres. Finally, in North Battleford, there is an additional forest products distribution centre.

The Honourable Greg Ottenbreit, Minister of Highways and Infrastructure, Government of Saskatchewan, said: “The Government of Saskatchewan is pleased to see this large capital investment from CN. These projects will help our producers and manufacturers get their products to market, secure our supply chain, and support Saskatchewan’s strong growth in the years ahead.”

Manitoba

The maintenance programme highlights for Manitoba include:             

• Replacement of more than 50 miles of rail
• Installation of over 150,000 new railroad ties
• Rebuilds of six road crossing surfaces
• Maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure.

Manitoba is a major hub of CN’s transcontinental rail network. Much of its traffic passes through Winnipeg’s Symington Yard, CN’s only hump yard in Western Canada. In Winnipeg, there are also CargoFlo bulk handling and automotive distribution facilities, and an intermodal terminal.

The Honourable Ron Schuler, Minister of Infrastructure, Government of Manitoba, said: “The province of Manitoba appreciates CN’s ongoing commitment to making investments that improve safety and promote economic growth in the province. CN plays an important role in moving Manitoba’s economy forward.”

New Brunswick

The maintenance programme highlights for New Brunswick include:

• Replacement of eight miles of rail
• Installation of approximately 10,000 new railroad ties
• Rebuilds of five road crossing surfaces
• Maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure.

Forest products make up a significant part of the traffic originating or terminating in the province of New Brunswick. CN also handles consumer goods and other intermodal traffic through its terminal in Moncton. Other CN facilities in Moncton include a major rail classification yard as well as an automotive distribution centre and a CargoFlo bulk handling facility. CN’s network extends to the ports of Belledune and Saint John, where CN has another CargoFlo bulk handling facility.

The Honourable Bill Oliver, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Government of New Brunswick, said: “I am encouraged by CN’s planned capital investments to enhance its rail network in New Brunswick. With the modernisation of the Saint John port and the expansion and diversification work going on at the Port of Belledune, it is even more critical to have a supporting rail system to fully optimise our transportation infrastructure.”

Nova Scotia

The maintenance programme highlights for Nova Scotia include:             

• Replacement of four miles of rail
• Installation of approximately 30,000 new railroad ties
• Rebuilds of eight road crossing surfaces
• Maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure.

Nova Scotia is home to the Port of Halifax, where CN handles all rail-served containers imported and exported through the marine facility. Halifax is the site of a major Autoport, where automotive vehicles imported from overseas enter North America for distribution across the continent. One of CN’s intermodal terminals is also located in Halifax.

The Honourable Lloyd Hines, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, Government of Nova Scotia, said: “CN continues to build on the critical links between Nova Scotia and the global marketplace. Streamlining supply chain infrastructure continues to cement CN’s position as a world leader in intermodal transport and, in doing so, solidifies Nova Scotia’s place in the North American economy.”

The Canadian National Railway Company (CN)

CN is a true backbone of the economy, transporting more than $250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network of approximately 20,000 route-miles spanning Canada and mid-America. CN – along with its operating railway subsidiaries – serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America.