CN announced this week it will invest nearly CA$1.3 billion this year in capital expenditures on infrastructure in the provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta and Quebec.
In British Columbia, the CA$445 million investment will include expansion projects that will add track in yards and new sidings. CN also will continue spending on multiyear initiatives to increase capacity at the Port of Vancouver and the Port of Prince Rupert in collaboration with the Canadian government, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and the Prince Rupert Port Authority.
The planned expansion projects include construction of 3.5 miles of double track between Vancouver and Edmonton near Glen Valley; construction of new sidings on the Edmonton to Prince Rupert corridor to increase capacity; and the port investments, CN officials said in a press release.
In addition, maintenance projects in British Columbia will include the replacement of more than 100 miles of rail; installation of more than 209,000 new ties and 46,000 new concrete ties; the rebuilding of 22 road crossing surfaces; and work on bridges, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.
Meanwhile, in Ontario, CN's CA$310 million budget for capital expenditures will focus on intermodal facilities, the replacement of rail and ties, as well as the maintenance of bridges, level crossings, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure. Maintenance work calls for the replacement of more than 60 miles of rail, installation of 195,000 new ties and the rebuilding of 86 road crossing surfaces.
In Alberta, the CA$305 million budget will cover expansion projects such as the construction of double track to allow more trains to pass on CN's mainline. The maintenance program calls for the replacement of 71 miles of rail, the installation of 210,000 new ties and the rebuilding of 28 grade crossing surfaces.
In Quebec, the CA$235million budget will address information technology projects, positive train control, the replacement of 20 miles of rail, the installation of 140,000 new ties and the rebuilding of 47 crossing surfaces.