More infrastructure updates are coming to CN's rail network, including one near Prince George.
The company has announced planned expansion projects as well as maintenance programs to update current tracks, investing $345 million into the rail network across the province this year.
“Following a record capital program in 2018, CN has been able to take on more traffic from different commodity sectors based on contracts with our customers. This year, CN is planning to invest even more than last year to continue boosting capacity and network resiliency and to meet growing traffic on our corridors across B.C.,” Doug Ryhorchuk, Vice-President of CN’s Western Region says in a release.
These projects and maintenance procedures in B.C. are part of CN's 2019 record $3.9 billion capital investment focusing on enabling growth from all commodity segments.
Over two years, CN will have made a massive $7.4 billion capital investment.
City of Prince George Mayor Lyn Hall expressed his excitement for the projects, which will increase supplies and services in northern B.C.
"Prince George is a hub city at the confluence of rivers, roads, highways, and rails, thus investments in rail near Prince George directly benefit and enhance our city. Prince George is also a centre that provides supplies and services to most of the northern half of B.C., so the health of our railway system is critical to our current and future success. Our city greatly values our relationship with CN and looks forward to continuing our successful partnership long into the future."
CN is investing approximately $345 million in B.C. in 2019 to continue boosting capacity, network resiliency, and meet growing traffic on our corridors across the province.
— Canadian National (@CNRailway) March 20, 2019
Learn more: https://t.co/ZMmIePtPEP
The planned expansion projects, which the company says will improve traffic fluidity in the Port of Prince Rupert and Port of Vancouver Areas will include the following:
- Construction of a new train passing siding in Port Edward
- Construction of 2.5 miles of double track west of Prince George
- Multi-year initiatives to increase capacity at the Port of Vancouver in collaboration with the Government of Canada and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Maintenance highlights include the following:
- The replacement of roughly 115 miles of rail
- Installation of more than 210,000 new railroad ties
- Rebuilds of 38 road crossing surfaces
- Other maintenance work on culverts, signal systems and additional track infrastructure
More than $1.2 billion has been recorded for CN capital investments for the last five years.
