CN to buy another 50 locomotives

CN to buy another 50 locomotives    Canadian National Railway Co. said Wednesday it will utilize its options to buy 50 “high-horsepower” locomotives from Electro-Motive Diesel.
   In April 2005, the railroad ordered 25 4,300-horsepower SD70M-2 locomotives from Electro-Motive Diesel plus the options for a further 50. Financial details for either transaction were not disclosed.
   The additional 50 trains are due to be delivered in the second half of 2007.
   “These new locomotives will position us to accommodate rising traffic volumes on our Western Canadian network and, in particular, anticipated new Prince Rupert freight volumes,” said E. Hunter Harrison, CN’s president and chief executive officer.
   “CN’s network has ample capacity to handle more freight, with new extended sidings in the West allowing us to improve velocity and efficiencies. We’re excited about Prince Rupert’s future, and we’ll be ready to take full advantage of the port’s potential.”
   Phase One of the conversion of the Fairview Terminal at Prince Rupert Port into a facility with an annual capacity of 500,000 TEUs is expected to be completed in the second half of 2007. Future plans could see the terminal reach an annual capacity of 2 million TEUs.
   “These containers will travel over CN’s North American network from Prince Rupert to Toronto, Montreal, Chicago and Memphis,” CN said.