CN to invest in several states to enable sustainable growth and improve capacity

Credit: CN - A CN locomotive in Michigan

The Canadian National Railway Company (CN) has announced plans to invest approximately $195 million overall in several states, including Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, and Mississippi. This includes investments in technology, capacity, rolling stock units and company-wide decarbonisation initiatives, as well as network improvements. These investments will power sustainable growth and ensure the continued safe movement of goods on CN’s transcontinental network.

“We continue to make significant investments in our network, technology, and capacity,” Sean Finn, Executive Vice-President for Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer of CN, said. “We are building the premier railroad of the 21st century to do even more for our customers, railroaders, shareholders, and the communities in which we operate.”

Approximately $55 million will be invested in Minnesota, approximately $20 million will be invested in Iowa, approximately $55 million will be invested in Michigan and approximately $65 million will be invested in Mississippi, all in 2022.

The highlights for the maintenance programme in Mississippi include replacing approximately 5 miles of rail, installing approximately 130,000 new railroad ties, rebuilding 14 road crossing surfaces, and maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure.

“CN is an important economic driver in our state, enabling supply chains and linking Mississippi industry to markets across the world,” Tate Reeves, Governor of Mississippi “I look forward to our continued partnership with CN as we work together towards creating growth in all sectors of the Mississippi economy.”

Credit: CN – A CN locomotive in Mississippi

The highlights for the maintenance programme in Michigan include replacing more than four miles of rail, installing approximately 50,000 new railroad ties, rebuilding 19 road crossing surfaces, and maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure.

“CN’s railroad provides a key tunnel for commerce to flow between Port Huron and Sarnia, which is more critical now than ever before, due to supply chain issues,” Lisa McClain, Congresswoman for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, said. “I’m grateful to CN for providing a quick and efficient way for goods to move between the United States and Canada and appreciate their continued support and investment in our local economy.”

The highlights of the maintenance programme in Iowa include replacing more than 14 miles of rail, installing approximately 9,000 new railroad ties, rebuilding 14 road crossing surfaces, and maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure.

“Railways help move Iowa’s agricultural and manufactured products to markets throughout the country,” Chuck Grassley, Senator for Iowa, said. “Our economy depends on all types of infrastructure. We’re very fortunate to have access to rail service throughout Iowa, and this investment from CN will help our manufacturers and farmers continue to feed, build, and fuel the world.”

Credit: CN – A CN locomotive in Iowa

The highlights for the maintenance programme in Minnesota include replacing approximately five miles of rail, installing more than 105,000 new railroad ties, rebuilding 14 road crossing surfaces, and maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure.

“This past year, CN expertly navigated difficult circumstances and successfully kept critical goods moving across Minnesota, further proving that they are an essential link in our critical supply chains,” Pete Stauber, Congressman for Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District, said. “I am incredibly grateful that CN has chosen to build upon their success in Minnesota by investing in local infrastructure and technology.”