CN announces that, as part of its strategic investments to support growing demand and enable supply chains, it plans to invest approximately $105 million (CAD) across Saskatchewan in 2020. The investments will focus on the replacement of rail and ties, as well as the maintenance of bridges, level crossings, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.
“We take our essential role in the North American economy seriously and these investments in Saskatchewan are a key part of our strategy to support growth," says James Thompson, vice president, Western Region at CN. "Our cmpany remains committed to help enable supply chains that fuel Saskatchewan’s growth as we are a critical part of getting everyday goods to markets and consumers. Safety is a core value at CN and by investing in the maintenance and expansion of our track and capacity, we are providing customers with a safe and reliable solution at a time when fluid supply chains are more critical than ever.”
The company’s investments will create greater capacity, which supports reductions in its customer’s transportation supply chain GHG emissions, by encouraging the use of rail for long haul needs. This reduces emissions, traffic congestion, accidents and burdens on public transportation infrastructure as one freight train can replace over 300 trucks from roads. Moving freight by rail instead of truck reduces GHG emissions by 75%. The company will continue to deploy important safety enhancing technologies across its network, such as the Autonomous.
Track Inspection Program, Distributed Air Cars and Automated Inspection Portals. Planned expansion projects include continued investments to multi-year infrastructure in southern Saskatchewan.
Maintenance program highlights include:
- Replacement of more than 65 miles of rail
- Installation of over 145,000 new railroad ties
- Rebuilds of 12 road crossing surfaces
- Maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure
Saskatchewan in numbers:
- Capital investments: More than $850 million in the last five years
- Employees: approximately 1,154
- Railroad route miles operated: 1,946
- Community partnerships: $416,000 in 2019
- Local spending: $136 million in 2019
- Cash taxes paid: $107 million in 2019
Grains and fertilizers, especially potash, make up a substantial portion of the traffic handled by CN in this Prairie province. The traffic also reflects the increasing diversification of the Saskatchewan economy by handling growing volumes of consumer goods and specialty crops through CN’s intermodal terminals in Saskatoon and Canada’s first privately operated intermodal terminal located in the Chuka Creek Business Park in Regina. Both Saskatoon and Regina boast metals distribution facilities. Saskatoon also has an automotive distribution facility and a major rail classification yard. In Bienfait, there is a CargoFlo bulk handling facility as well as forest products and metals distribution centres. Finally, in North Battleford, there is an additional forest products distribution center.
