CN to invest $80 million in Minnesota

The Class I railroad’s $2.9 billion capital investment plan also includes another $505 million to be invested across four other states.

   Canadian National Railway announced last week it will invest more than $80 million in Minnesota in 2019 as part of its $2.9 billion capital investment plan.
   Planned expansion projects include the construction of a new train passing sliding near Glendale, located in northern Minnesota, and investments for the development of the positive train control system. The investment also includes the installation of about 85,000 new railroad ties, rebuilds of 23 road crossing surfaces, replacement of more than 10 miles of the 429 railroad miles operated in the state and maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.
   “From farmers to manufacturers, so many critical sectors of Minnesota’s economy are dependent on a functioning railway system,” said Rep. Pete Stauber (pictured above), R-Minn., in a statement. “As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am committed to improving our rail infrastructure and am thankful that CN shares that commitment.”
   CN’s announcement of its Minnesota plan came days after it said it will invest a combined $505 million in capital projects across Illinois, Louisiana, Tennessee and Wisconsin.