Canada’s largest Class I railway earmarks C$470 million for its rail networks in British Columbia and Manitoba.
Canadian National (CN), the largest of the two Canada-based Class I railways, is heavily investing in its rail networks across British Columbia and Manitoba.
The investments across the two provinces are part of its record $3.4 billion Canadian (U.S. $2.6 billion) capital program for 2018.
CN said it is investing about C$340 million across its network in British Columbia in 2018.
The company’s British Columbia rail network serves the West Coast gateways of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, as well as major inland terminals in Surrey, Prince George, Kamloops and Fort Nelson.
CN’s planned expansion projects in British Columbia include construction of four new train passing sidings between Prince Rupert and Jasper, Alberta; extension of three existing passing sidings between Prince Rupert and Jasper; and a siding extension north of Kamloops on the company’s Vancouver-to-Edmonton corridor.
Meanwhile, CN’s maintenance program highlights across British Columbia include the replacement of about 115 miles of rail; the installation of more than 335,000 new railroad ties; rebuilds of about 50 road crossing surfaces; and maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems and tracks.
CN also plans to invest about C$130 million during the year in the central Canadian province of Manitoba.
In Winnipeg, Manitoba’s capital, CN will add a dozen new and extended tracks within the railway’s Symington Yard, which it said is the centerpiece of its transcontinental network.
Work in the province also includes the replacement of about 30 miles of rail; installation of more than 80,000 new railroad ties; rebuilds of about 20 road crossing surfaces; and maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.
CN announced in May its plans to buy 1,000 new-generation high-cube grain hopper cars over the next two years, allowing it to phase out older, lower-capacity cars from its owned and leased fleet.
The railway also is buying 350 lumber cars to serve growing demand from lumber-producing customers across its North American network. The cars are expected to be delivered starting in September, the railway said in May.
In April, CN announced it will acquire 350 boxcars to serve growing demand from forest products and metals customers, with all of these leased boxcars expected to be in service by the end of 2018.
This month, CN is expected to take delivery of the first of 60 new GE locomotives due in service in 2018, with the balance of the 200-unit order being brought online in 2019 and 2020.
After a harsh winter took a toll on CN’s first-quarter net income, which fell 16 percent from a year prior to C$741 million, CN Interim President and CEO JJ Ruest said in April that the railway had “turned the corner.”
“Our metrics are showing sustained, sequential improvement, and that momentum will build as we continue to expand track capacity, add crews and bring on new locomotives,” he said.
CN heavily investing in two provinces
