Canadian National will investment C$37 million (US$38.47 million) in Alberta, Canada, to double track key segments of its high-volume main line east of Edmonton, add capacity to its rail line to the oil sands region of northern Alberta and improve velocity at its Walker Yard freight car classification facility in Edmonton.

Keith Creel, CN executive vice-president and chief operating officer, said, "CN is experiencing continued growth in Western Canadian freight volumes. We are making strategic rail investments in Alberta to increase network capacity and improve train velocity along our transcontinental main line between Edmonton and Winnipeg, and to be positioned to handle greater volumes of freight over our line to Fort McMurray, the gateway to Alberta's oil sands production region."

CN's capacity investments include:

C$12 million (US$12.47 million) to construct 3.5 miles of track between two sidings located approximately 20 miles east of Edmonton on the Wainwright Subdivision, creating 7.9 miles of double track.

C$12 million (US$12.47 million) to build 11,400 feet of track east of Clover Bar yard on the Wainwright Subdivision in the greater Edmonton area to facilitate switching in the terminal.

C$10 million (US$10.39 million) on CN's secondary Lac La Biche Subdivision in northern Alberta to support additional traffic to and from Fort McMurray. CN's Fort McMurray yard gives customers direct rail access to the major energy projects in development in the Athabasca, Peace River and Cold Lake oil sands regions.

C$3 million (US$3.12 million) to reconfigure tracks at Walker Yard in Edmonton to increase the velocity of the terminal in handling greater volumes of freight traffic.

Creel said, "These investments will help CN handle rising traffic levels and deliver greater supply chain efficiencies. CN is committed to greater productivity and service innovation to help our customers compete more effectively in their end markets."