CN lays out Ontario capital program for 2018

Canadian National

Canadian National’s Ontario network will see a CA$315 million (US$239.8 million) investment from the railroad in a bid to expand and strengthen the company’s rail infrastructures across the province.

The investment is part of the Class 1’s record capital plan for 2018 and adds to the CA$1.2 billion (US$913 million) CN has spent in Ontario during the past five years. It also marks the eighth province plan the railroad has detailed recently. CN has also unveiled capital plans for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Manitoba, Alberta, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

“We are investing for the long haul with these projects to boost capacity and network resiliency to meet growing demand across our economy,” said Michael Farkouh, vice-president of CN’s Eastern Region. “Our investments in track and intermodal yard capacity combined with new equipment will help us deliver superior service to our customers in Ontario and North America. Additionally, our substantial investments to renew our existing railway infrastructure underscores our commitment to operating safely.”

Highlights of the work to be performed include a new train passing siding in CN’s transcontinental corridor through Northern Ontario linking Toronto and Winnipeg and intermodal rail yard expansions that will improve efficient movement of containers into and out of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). Other capital program elements will focus on the replacement, upgrade and maintenance of key track infrastructure to improve overall safety and efficiency.

CN’s Brampton Intermodal Terminal, the railroad’s largest intermodal facility, will see investments in a satellite intermodal facility to provide temporary capacity, as well as investments in intermodal equipment and infrastructure to serve the railroad’s growing cold supply chain business. A new train passing siding will be constructed east of Sioux Lookout.

Provincial maintenance program highlights include replacing approximately 90 miles of rail, installing more than 380,000 crossties, rebuilding approximately 60 grade-crossing surfaces, as well as maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.