The effect that the coronavirus pandemic is having on rail volumes could get worse in the coming weeks before things get better, according to executives.
The railway managed to boost its first-quarter net income despite the February rail blockades and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Investigators with the Transportation Safety Board are urging Transport Canada to consider revising track maintenance regulations since broken rail is appearing as a possible cause for two recent crude train derailments.
The new orders require “higher-risk key trains” to slow down their speed in the wintertime.
The Canadian railways will have the network capacity to accommodate any sudden surges in demand once the coronavirus pandemic subsides, their executives said.
The three Class I railroads have set or will set targets as part of their involvement in a global initiative.
The modifications include extra precautions that follow CDC guidance.
Industry group estimates farmers will face rail blockade-related costs of over C$300 million.
Canadian National CEO JJ Ruest still expects the company will meet 2020 targets despite a significant hit from rail blockades.
With the possibility of rail blockades fading, the railway is seeking to ramp up its eastern operations again after it had shut them down for roughly two weeks because of protests.
The tentative agreement could help bring an end to protests on the country’s freight transportation network.
Law enforcement may have broken up protesters’ rail blockade near Belleville, Ontario, but it’s uncertain when freight rail operations will return to normal. Stakeholders along Canada’s supply chain are also still jittery over the potential for additional blockades.
Uncertainty is still an underlying theme facing North American freight railroads.
Reported deal to let Canadian National quietly route some freight around protests gets high marks from director of trucking company hit hard by the disruptions.
Authorities have cleared a key route between Toronto and Montreal after protesters blocked the rail route for over two weeks.
Ontario Provincial Police move to end blockades on a key stretch of CN’s rail network linking Toronto and Montreal after more than two weeks of protests that have disrupted Canada’s supply chain.
Montreal-based Energy Transportation Group moving on loads of bulk commodities as nervous shippers lose patience with two-week disruption of Canada’s rail services from pipeline protests.
Incident captured on video on Manitoba highway underscores high stakes and worsening tensions across the country as anti-pipeline protests severely disrupt Canadian supply chains.
Canadian National lays off employees, industry groups warn of significant supply chain disruptions and government and First Nations leaders continue to discuss the multi-day protests that have blocked portions of Canada’s rail network.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance calls for an end to disruptions to Canadian National’s network as it warns of effect on intermodal carriers and the broader industry.
