Railroad News

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 3/16/2022 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN today announced it will make a combined donation of CA$1.1 million to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and to Razom in the United States in support of Ukrainians displaced by the war in Ukraine.CN will also be matching donations made through the CN Employees' and Pensioners' Community Fund, company officials said in a press release.The donations will help the foundation and Razom to continue providing humanitarian assistance and relief to displaced persons by offering medical care, emergency shelter and food, said CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson."Our company’s history is tied to the settlement of western Canada by Ukrainians and we are proud to have CN employees, retirees and stakeholders in both Canada and the US who are of Ukrainian descent," she added.The Canada-Ukraine Foundation was formed in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize, and deliver assistance projects generated by Canadians and directed to Ukraine.Razom is a U.S.-based nonprofit that aims to improve Ukraine. In response to the war, Razom volunteers created the Razom Emergency Response, which is focused on purchasing medical supplies, hospital supplies and tech-enabled emergency response supplies that facilitate the delivery of aid.

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 3/2/2022 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN has asked the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to condition any approval of the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger on the divestiture of the KCS line from Kansas City, Missouri, to Springfield and East St. Louis, Illinois, to CN.CN made the request based on the STB’s statutory authority to order “the divestiture of parallel tracks" as a merger condition, company officials said in a press release. Granting CN control of what it calls the "Kansas City Speedway" line would provide rail customers with a new competitive option to move goods across a key North American economic corridor, they proposed.CN would invest in the Kansas City Speedway, which would "benefit customers and communities, create union and management jobs, and produce substantial environmental benefits by taking 80,000 trucks off the road annually," company officials said."Under the right ownership, we believe there is a clear opportunity to bring widespread economic benefits for customers and communities across the American Midwest and Canada," said CN Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rob Reilly. "CN has a comprehensive plan for the Kansas City Speedway that will increase competition, create jobs, reduce roadway congestion, and positively impact the environment."CN’s creation of the Kansas City Speedway would ensure that automotive and intermodal customers in particular would have "greater competitive shipping options between Eastern Canada, Detroit, Chicago and Kansas City," CN officials said.Over 70 letters of support for the proposal have been filed with the STB, they added.

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On Jan. 25, CN announced Tracy Robinson would become its next president and CEO on Feb. 28. Robinson’s appointment follows the previously announced retirement of Jean-Jacques Ruest as the Class I’s leader. Ruest will depart CN’s board on Feb. 28, but will serve as an adviser until March 31 to “ensure a seamless transition,” CN officials said.

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 2/7/2022 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
The back-and-forth between CN and Canadian Pacific over the latter’s application for approval of its acquisition of Kansas City Southern is continuing, according to documents filed in recent days with the Surface Transportation Board (STB).Late last week, CN filed a letter with the STB in response to CP’s letter that addressed CN's intention to submit a responsive application asking the STB to condition its approval of the CP-KCS merger on the divestiture of KCS lines from Kansas City, Missouri, to Springfield and East St. Louis, Illinois, to CN.The Springfield Line is a direct competitive alternative to CP’s route from Kansas City to Chicago, and beyond to Detroit and eastern Canada, according to CN.To read CN’s letter in response to CP’s Jan. 28 letter, click here.To read the CP letter to the STB, click here.

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 1/26/2022 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
Tracy Robinson will become CN's next president and CEO on Feb. 28. She will be the second woman to lead a North American Class I. Photo – tcenergy.com

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 1/13/2022 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN announced today it intends to ask the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to condition any approval of a Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger on the divestiture of KCS lines from Kansas City, Missouri, to Springfield and East St. Louis, Illinois, to CN.CN yesterday informed the STB of its intent to file a responsive application on Feb. 28 in accordance with the board’s schedule for reviewing the CP-KCS merger application.The Springfield Line is a direct competitive alternative to CP’s route from Kansas City to Chicago, and beyond to Detroit and eastern Canada. CP and KCS have made it clear in their merger application that they plan no investment on the Springfield Line, and instead will de-emphasize it in favor of CP’s existing parallel line, CN officials said in a press release.Putting the line under CN’s control "represents a major opportunity to improve transportation options, promote rail-to-rail competition, and take many of thousands of long-haul trucks off the road annually through increased rail-to-truck competition," the press release stated.Specifically, CN would invest at least $250 million in the line, including terminal upgrades; opening new international markets to customers; and preserving existing options by providing KCS access to customers on the line, CN officials said.

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 12/22/2021 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN's network in British Columbia was shut down for three weeks due to washouts. Photo – cn.ca

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 12/20/2021 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN expects to announce in January the selection of a new chief executive officer to succeed President and CEO JJ Ruest.The CN board’s search committee, with the assistance of Korn Ferry, has identified and continues to interview a number of candidates. In October, Ruest announced his plans to retire in January 2022, or at a later time when a successor is named.As part of its search process, the committee conducted “multiple rounds of interviews” with former CN executive Jim Vena and conducted due diligence with respect to his candidacy.However, last night Vena notified the board that he’s no longer interested in pursuing the role and has withdrawn from the process, CN officials said in a press release.Vena had been the choice of major shareholder TCI Fund Management, which earlier this year challenged CN’s proposed acquisition of Kansas City Southern. KCS has since been acquired by Canadian Pacific, and KCS shares have been placed in a voting trust until the Surface Transportation Board decides whether to approve its merger with Canadian Pacific.

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 12/15/2021 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN announced a seven-year strategic partnership with Google Cloud aimed at modernizing the Class I’s supply chain through digital scheduled railroading and technology infrastructure.The companies will collaborate in an effort to "revolutionize" the North American rail system, CN officials said in a press release.The partnership will support CN's sustainability goals because Google’s cloud platform is the cleanest in the industry, they said.The partnership will focus on three initiatives that aim to:
• enable better connectivity and collaboration with customers and supply chain partners. CN will develop an intuitive digital platform, powered by Google Cloud’s artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools, to give customers and supply chain partners more visibility into the logistics journey of planning, shipping, tracking and payment.


• deliver new experiences for CN’s customers through co-innovation initiatives. The partnership will combine the companies' expertise in data analytics, AI, and ML to deliver solutions and next-generation experiences for CN’s employees, customers, and partners, such as simplified ordering and automated tracking to further enhance predictive maintenance capabilities.


• modernize CN’s infrastructure in the cloud. CN will gradually and securely move the large majority of its digital infrastructure, including SAP applications, from on-premises to Google Cloud’s always-on global network. Moving to the cloud will enable CN to scale with customer and industry demands, simplify the company’s IT estate, create efficiencies and reduce product delivery lead times.

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 12/10/2021 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN has been recognized for leadership in corporate governance, ranking first in The Globe and Mail’s annual comprehensive assessment of 220 S&P/TSX Composite Index members.CN was given a score of 98 out of 100 points, CN officials said in a press release.Companies were ranked on 38 questions as well as sub-questions on many subjects including environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG), sustainability, board composition, shareholding and compensation, shareholder rights and disclosure.Details of the ranking and methodology available are available here."I am proud that CN’s board has been recognized as a leader on corporate governance amongst its peers as the company continues to power sustainable growth for its customers, people, communities and shareholders. I would like to thank CN employees for their dedication to implementing our strategic plan and maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance," said CN Chair Robert Pace.

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 12/7/2021 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
Since 1993, CN has reduced its locomotive emission intensity by 43%. Photo – cn.ca

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 11/29/2021 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN's new Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) last week held its first meeting and announced the group's members.The council comprises representatives of Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities. The group will advise CN's board and top executive on issues that are relevant to the Class I's relationship with the more than 200 Indigenous communities in which the railroad operates in Canada, CN officials said in a press release.Roberta Louise Jamieson and Murray Sinclair are the council’s co-chairs.The new IAC members are:
    •    Mark Podlasly, Nlaka’pamux Nation, British Columbia;
    •    Marie Delorme, Metis, Alberta;
    •    Leanne Bellegarde, Peepeekisis Cree Nation, Saskatchewan;
    •    Phil Fontaine, Sagkeeng First Nation, Manitoba;
    •    Stephen Augustine, Mi’kmaw Nation (Mi’kmaq Grand Council), New Brunswick;
    •    Denise Pothier, Mi’kmaw Nation, Nova Scotia;
    •    Kateri Coade, Abegweit First Nation (Mi’kmaq), Prince Edward Island;
    •    Udlu Hanson, Inuit, Nunavut;
    •    Tabatha Bull, Nipissing First Nation, Ontario; and
    •    Ricky Fontaine, Uashat mak Mani-utenam Innu First Nation, Quebec.The council’s guidance will help strengthen the Class I's commitments to environmental, social and governance objectives, said CN Chair Robert Pace.

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 11/17/2021 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN today announced it has been included on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for the 10th consecutive year, and is also on the North America Index for the 13th straight year.The world index represents the top 10% of the world’s 2,500 largest companies (as evaluated by S&P Global), while the North America index represents the top 20% of North America’s 600 largest companies that demonstrate sustainability initiatives. Dow Jones' corporate sustainability assessment evaluated the economic, environmental and social criteria for meeting index designation.CN’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets and goals include the following:
• Reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 43% per million gross ton miles and reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel- and energy-related activities 40% per million gross ton miles by 2030 from a 2019 base year;
• Interim 6% intensity-based reduction in locomotive GHG emissions by 2022 from a 2017 base year;
• Reduce Criteria Air Contaminants intensity by 6% by 2022 from a 2017 base year;
• Eliminate serious injuries and fatalities from the workplace and reduce train accidents;
• Attain by 2022 and thereafter maintain an executive management team in which at least 30% are women; and
• Attain by 2022 and thereafter maintain a board composition in which at least 50% of the non-management board members come from diverse groups"Our inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability indices for both North America and the world validates our ongoing commitment to be a sustainability leader and is the result of the hard work and dedication of our railroaders," said CN President and CEO JJ Ruest in a press release. "We will continue to take meaningful steps towards our goal to be the safest and most carbon‑efficient, operationally effective and customer‑centric railroad in North America."

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 11/12/2021 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN today announced it has signed the "Business Ambition for 1.5°C" pledge, and has joined the  net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.The 1.5°C scenario is the concept that global warming could be limited to only a 1.5° Celsuis increase by sharply reducing carbon emissions and fossil fuels usage, as well as building more alternatives to produce renewable energy, among other measures to protect the environment.CN is the first North American railroad to commit to the Business Ambition and join the United Nations’ Race to Zero campaign, CN officials said in a press release.CN recently purchased a battery-electric locomotive for a joint pilot program and has announced other relevant partnerships that seek to minimize the environmental impacts of CN operations. CN first set an approved science-based target in 2017, which was reaffirmed earlier this year. In April, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approved CN’s pledge to reduce scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 43% per million gross ton miles by 2030 from a 2019 base year, and to reduce scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel- and energy-related activities by 40% per million gross ton miles by 2030 from a 2019 base year.The company will focus on five key initiatives to meet its goals: investing in locomotive fleet renewals; increasing the use of fuel-efficient technologies; leveraging big data analytics; enhancing operating practices; and expanding the use of cleaner fuels."CN has a strong track record of fuel and carbon efficiency and, in 2020, achieved its best locomotive fuel efficiency ever — over 4% better than the previous record set in 2019 — which avoided approximately 275,000 tonnes of emissions," said CN President and CEO Jean-Jacques Ruest. "We will continue to decarbonize our operations and, in turn, will enable our customers to reduce their transportation supply chain emissions."

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 11/3/2021 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN and Progress Rail today announced they're partnering with Renewable Energy Group (REG) to test high-level renewable fuel blends, including both biodiesel and renewable diesel.Trials and qualifications of up to 100% bio-based diesel fuel are important steps in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from CN’s existing locomotive fleet, while alternative propulsion locomotive technologies are being developed, CN and Progress Rail officials said in a joint press release.The program will allow CN and Progress Rail to better understand the long-term durability and operational impacts of renewable fuels on locomotives, especially in cold weather, and plan needed modifications to fully leverage their usage over the next decade, they said.Rail has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of transportation services, as shipping heavy freight by rail can reduce carbon emissions by up to 75% when compared to trucks.Looking to 2030 and beyond, reducing fossil carbon emissions associated with rail transportation will continue to require innovative fuel-efficient technologies, the greater use of cleaner sustainable fuels and designing innovative low emission supply chain solutions through investments and collaboration, they added.

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 11/2/2021 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN today issued a letter to shareholders in connection with its upcoming special meeting slated for March 22, 2022, and in response to recent materials filed by CIFF Capital and TCI Fund Management (collectively TCI).The letter outlines what CN's board and management team believe are TCI's "misleading claims" about the company, which CN officials said have been "disruptive" to the railroad's "sustainable value creation efforts."TCI — the largest shareholder of Canadian Pacific, CN's direct competitor — recently increased its stake in CN so that it could launch a hostile effort to replace four of CN's independent board directors and direct the selection of the company's next executive officer."We believe that as you come to learn more about TCI and its plans for CN, you will see that its motives are highly suspect and its approach to railroading is outdated, myopic and destructive to longer term value," CN's letter states.A copy of CN's letter can be accessed by clicking here.