Canadian National Railway (CN) plans to spend $1.9 billion this year for maintenance and upgrades to its rail network.
The investment will include the replacement of rail, ties and other track materials, and bridge work, as well as capacity and productivity improvements.
Included in the plan is to continue extending sidings in Northern Ontario, northern British Columbia and Alberta.
Double-track portions are being added to its mainline in Saskatchewan and new signals are being added on CN's Alberta mainline to expedite train movements.
Other improvements are being made at yards in Gary, Ind., Baton Rouge, La., an intermodal terminal in Joliet, Ill.; and to complete its Calgary Logistics Park project.
About $200 million is earmarked for the acquisition of new and used high-horsepower locomotives, intermodal equipment and vehicle as well as rolling stock refurbishments.
“Infrastructure investments, the acquisition of new locomotives and equipment and the enhancement of information technology systems will help support our agenda of operational and service excellence, said CN president and CEO Claude Mongeau in a Feb. 5 statement.