Extending the sidings along its Edmonton to Prince Rupert line will be among the projects for which CN Rail has alotted $1.75 billion in capital spending for the year, the company said Friday.
Beyond mentioning the work, no further details were provided.
"Going forward, we'll have more specifics in terms of various segments," CN Rail spokesperson Mark Hall said but added it's to take advantage of opportunities to ship more coal as well as intermodal containers.
"This is a corridor where we see some good growth opportunity and that's why CN is going to be investing in it," Hall said.
Further details should come out in the next month or two, Hall said.
Sidings are constructed to give trains a pullover spot to let oncoming trains come through.
Spending on the route will be part of more than $1 billion to be spent on replacing rail, ties and other track materials and improving bridges. The envelope also includes longer passing tracks in Northern Ontario and rail-line and yard improvements on the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company, CN Rail acquired in 2009
$500 million will go towards taking "advantage of growth opportunities and to acquire information technology to support operational and service excellence and other opportunities that enhance productivity."
And $150 million will be spent on buying new freight cars and locomotives.
