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CN announces capital plans for Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick

Two CN trains. (Photo: CN)

Canadian railway CN (NYSE: CNI) continues to roll out its 2020 capital investment plans for the provinces, detailing how it will spend $230 million in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick.

Over the last week, the railway has detailed how it will invest in infrastructure and maintenance projects in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec.

Saskatchewan

CN plans to invest $105 million on infrastructure and maintenance projects in Saskatchewan. The projects include replacing more than 65 miles of rail; installing over 145,000 new railroad ties; rebuilding 12 road crossing surfaces; and conducting maintenance on bridges, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.

The railway also said it is continuing investments to multi-year infrastructure in southern Saskatchewan. 


CN operates 1,946 route miles in Saskatchewan. It has invested more than $850 million in the last five years in the province. 

Much of CN’s traffic in Saskatchewan consists of grain and fertilizers, especially potash. The railway also handles consumer goods and specialty crops at its intermodal terminals in Saskatoon and at a privately operated terminal in Regina. Other facilities include metals distribution facilities in Saskatoon and Regina, an automotive distribution facility and a major rail classification yard in Saskatoon, a CargoFlo bulk handling facility and forest products and metals distribution centers in Bienfait and a forest products distribution center in North Battleford.

Manitoba

In Manitoba, CN will spend over $105 million on infrastructure and projects, including replacing and maintaining rail and ties, bridges, level crossings, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure. 

Specifically, CN expects to replace more than 50 miles of rail; install over 150,000 new railroad ties; rebuild six road crossing surfaces; and conduct maintenance on bridges, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.


CN has spent roughly $690 million in the last five years on infrastructure and maintenance projects in Manitoba. The railway operates 864 route miles in the province. 

CN’s Manitoba facilities include Symington Yard, the railroad’s only hump yard in western Canada, CargoFlo bulk handling and automotive distribution facilities and an intermodal terminal. All are located in Winnipeg.

New Brunswick

CN expects to invest $20 million in infrastructure and maintenance projects in New Brunswick this year. It has spent approximately $140 million in the province in the last five years.

CN plans to replace eight miles of rail; install approximately 10,000 new railroad ties; rebuild five road crossing surfaces; and conduct maintenance of bridges, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure. The railway operates 596 route miles in New Brunswick.

Much of CN’s originating and terminating traffic in New Brunswick consists of forest products. CN also has an intermodal terminal, a major rail classification yard, an automotive distribution center and a CargoFlo bulk handling facility in Moncton. CN also has a CargoFlo bulk handling facility in Saint John, and CN has access to the ports of Saint John and Belledune.

Click here for more FreightWaves articles by Joanna Marsh.

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Joanna Marsh

Joanna is a Washington, DC-based writer covering the freight railroad industry. She has worked for Argus Media as a contributing reporter for Argus Rail Business and as a market reporter for Argus Coal Daily.