Freight operator Canadian National Railway has announced a record C$3.2 billion ($2.6 billion) for major infrastructure projects in 2018.
For the third straight year, CN plans to invest approximately C$1.6 billion on track and railway infrastructure maintenance to support safe and efficient operations. The planned work includes the replacement of 2.1 million rail ties and more than 600 miles of rail, plus work on bridges and other general track maintenance.
Approximately C$400 million ($325 million) is expected to be spent on equipment, including the acquisition of new high horsepower locomotives. A further C$800 million ($649 million) is targeted towards initiatives to increase capacity and enable growth, such as track infrastructure expansion, investments in yards and in intermodal terminals; and on information technology to improve safety performance, operational efficiency and customer service.
More specifically, major capacity and equipment investments include:
- Sixty new GE locomotives, the first deliveries from a three-year order of 200 new units
- Double track and siding extensions in the West Coast to Chicago corridors
- Intermodal equipment and infrastructure in Toronto, Memphis, Tenn., Joliet, Ill., and other terminals
The Company plans to invest approximately C$400 million ($325 million) in 2018 on the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) along 3,500 route miles of its U.S. network. CN plans to invest a total of C$1.72 billion ($1.4 billion) on PTC capital expenditures by 2020.
