Railroad News

CN President and Chief Executive Officer JJ Ruest today announced he has appointed railroaders experienced in precision-scheduled railroading to serve in senior management positions.

Doug MacDonald and Keith Reardon will head CN's sales and marketing initiatives and all non-rail supply chain operations, such as intermodal container terminals and transload facilities.

CN has posted on its website a plan for servicing the 2018-19 grain crop.

The report is what the Class I is calling a first annual public Grain Plan, developed after "extensive consultation with key stakeholders," according to the website.

CN yesterday raised its financial outlook for the second half of the year after reporting  strong second-quarter results.

Net income for the quarter rose 27 percent to CA$1.31 billion, or CA$1.77 per share, from CA$1.03 billion, or CA$1.36 per share, a year ago. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were CA$1.51, up from CA$1.34 last year.

Jean-Jacques Ruest has been appointed president and chief executive officer of CN, the Class I announced today.

Ruest, who has been serving as interim president and CEO since March, also has been appointed to CN's board.

CN will spend CA$315 million on projects to expand and strengthen its network across Ontario this year, the Class I announced yesterday.

Planned expansion projects will include investments in a satellite intermodal facility near the railroad's Brampton Intermodal Terminal to provide temporary capacity; intermodal equipment and infrastructure at CN's Brampton Intermodal Terminal to serve growing cold supply chain business; and construction of a new train passing siding east of Sioux Lookout.

CN officials announced last week the railroad will spend CA$40 million this year on infrastructure in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

In New Brunswick, the Class I will spend CA$30 million to install 20 miles of rail and more than 50,000 ties, as well as rebuild road crossing surfaces and perform maintenance on bridges, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.

CN will spend CA$210 million of its 2018 capital program to improve and expand its network in Saskatchewan.

The Class I's projects will include more than 20 miles of new double track in three locations across the province. Other capital program investments will focus on the replacement, upgrade and maintenance of key track infrastructure to improve overall safety and efficiency, CN officials said in a press release.

CN this year will spend CA$320 million to strengthen and expand its infrastructure in Alberta and CA$210 million in Quebec, the Class I announced this week.

The investments are part of CN's CA$3.4 billion capital expenditures program for 2018, CN officials said in press releases.

CN plans to spend about CA$130 million this year to bolster infrastructure in Manitoba, including an expansion of Symington Yard in Winnipeg.

The yard project calls for building or extending a dozen tracks to help improve the efficiency of handling rail cars from Canada and the United States, CN officials said in a press release.

CN will spend CA$340 million this year to expand and strengthen its rail network through British Columbia, the Class I announced yesterday.

The investment is part of CN's CA$3.4 billion capital program for 2018. Key projects include track expansion to boost capacity and the replacement, upgrade and maintenance of key track infrastructure.

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) has ratified a new five-year contract with CN, the railroad announced yesterday.

The agreement, which runs through Dec. 31, 2022, provides wage and benefit increases each year that it's in effect. The pact also modifies work rules that were "of concern to both CN and engineers," CN officials said in a press release.

CN plans to acquire 1,000 new generation high-cube grain hopper cars over the next two years, the Class I announced today.

The investment is aimed at rejuvenating aging equipment needed to serve increasing annual crop yields, CN officials said in a press release. The new jumbo hopper cars will have 5,431 cubic feet of capacity.

CN has pleaded guilty to violating the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and will pay a CA$25,000 fine as well as a CA$1.1 million sum to promote environmental protection, according to a government press release.

The violation relates to CN importing a fuel that did not meet federal Renewable Fuels Regulations, government officials said in a press release. An investigation by Environment and Climate Change Canada found that between July 1, 2011, and Dec. 31, 2012, CN imported more than 224 million liters of diesel fuel.

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CN announced yesterday it has met all grain orders in western Canada for the third consecutive week and is now seeking additional export orders from grain companies.

"The decisive action we took in March to deploy more crews and locomotives has led to dramatic improvements in the movement of western Canadian grain," said Doug MacDonald, vice president of bulk at CN, said in a press release.

CN announced today it will buy 350 centerbeam cars to meet a growing demand from lumber-producing customers across the Class I's network.

The new, 73-foot riserless centerbeams will have a maximum load capacity of 286,000 pounds and are expected to be delivered starting in September, CN officials said in a press release.