CN TO ACQUIRE GE LOCOMOTIVES
Canadian National said Wednesday it has agreed to acquire 60 4,400-horsepower locomotives produced by General Electric Transportation Systems. Delivery will be completed in phases through 2004.
The new units will be 18 percent more efficient than older locomotives, while requiring 35 percent lower maintenance costs, CN said.
For each group of 30 new locomotives introduced into mainline services, CN will displace up to 50 older mainline 3,000-horsepower locomotives.
The acquisitions are part of a program started in 1995 to upgrade CN's fleet. CN has acquired 384 new locomotives, reducing the average age of its fleet to 13 years, from nearly 18 years in 1995.