CN and Keyera plan to evaluate a clean energy terminal solution in the Alberta Industrial Heartland. (CN Photo)

CN, Keyera to Evaluate Creation of Alberta Clean Energy Terminal

CN and Canadian-based oil and gas operator Keyera Corp. (Keyera) announced on Aug. 17 the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly evaluate the creation of a specialized clean energy

Pictured: The first of 11 CN trains hauling wind turbine units to Oyen, Alberta. (Photograph Courtesy of CN)

Class I Briefs: CN, CSX

CN recently delivered 11 units trains of wind turbine components to support the installation of four different wind farms in southern Alberta. Also, CSX is supporting eastern Kentucky relief efforts following widespread flooding late last month.

Hudson Bay Railway connects with CN in The Pas, running north through Manitoba to the Hudson Bay at the Port of Churchill.

Canada, Manitoba Partner to Support Hudson Bay Railway

Manitoba Premier and Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface–Saint Vital Heather Stefanson, and Minister for PrairiesCan, Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister for CanNor Daniel Vandal announced on Aug. 3 a joint

CN ’22-’23 Grain Plan: ‘We Are Ready’

Since 2018, the Canadian government, through changes in the Canadian Transportation Modernization Act, has required Canada’s railroads to publish Grain Plans for the forthcoming crop year. Grain is crucial to Canada’s economy; as such, its transportation is heavily regulated—much more so than in the U.S. CN has just published its 2022-2023 Grain Plan, which “describes CN’s preparations for moving a western Canadian grain crop that is expected to rebound from last year’s drought-impacted levels,” the railroad said.

CN second-quarter revenues were up 21% from the prior-year period. This is “mainly due to higher applicable fuel surcharge rates, freight rate increases, higher Canadian export volumes of coal via west coast ports, higher volumes of U.S. grain, and the positive translation impact of a weaker Canadian dollar; partly offset by significantly lower export volumes of Canadian grain,” CN said. (Photograph Courtesy of CN)

CN: 2Q22 Reflects ‘Improved’ Op Performance, ‘Solid’ Top-Line Growth (UPDATED, Cowen)

“Our team has the network running well, demonstrating improvements in service levels to our customers, driving greater velocity and generating strong financial results,” CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson said during a second-quarter 2022 financial report. “We are preparing for a busy fall and are well positioned to achieve our 2022 outlook.”

Canada: Grassroots Advocacy for Ag By Rail

Two Canadian agricultural groups, Pulse Canada and the Western Grain Elevator Association, have launched a campaign called “Canada’s Ready,” described as a grassroots public awareness campaign to “show Canadians and the world that our farmers, processors and exporters are ready to step up and deliver,” and “to ensure there are no weak links in Canada’s agriculture supply chain,” the most important segment of which is railroads.

Amtrak to STB: Deny CN’s Responsive Application

Amtrak is calling on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to deny CN’s conditions to the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger because they do “not satisfy the Board’s ‘operationally feasible’ requirement” and “would harm the public interest by adversely affecting the provision of passenger rail service. …”

“Our new investment will not only improve the safety and efficiency of Canada’s railways, but also strengthen our supply chain and tackle inflation by addressing bottlenecks, vulnerabilities and congestion along Canada’s trade corridors,” reported Transport Canada Minister Omar Alghabra reported in a July 13 Twitter post. (Photograph Courtesy of Alghabra via Twitter)

Canada Investing $4.4MM to Improve Hudson Bay Railway Corridor Safety

The government of Canada is committing C$4.4 million to identify potential mitigation strategies for permafrost hazards along the Hudson Bay Railway corridor in Manitoba, reported Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra on July 13.

CN is spending $20 million this year on capital projects in Iowa, where it operates 574 railroad route miles and employs about 230 people. (Photograph Courtesy of CN via Twitter)

For CN, $485MM in U.S. Capex for 2022

CN in 2022 will invest a total of $485 million in U.S. capital projects throughout the states of Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

CSX and subsidiary Quality Carriers employees recently assembled 5,000 care packages for U.S. troops stationed in Eastern Europe, who have been mobilized in response to the conflict in Ukraine. (Photograph Courtesy of CSX)

ESG Briefs: CN/CP, CSX, OmniTRAX

CN and Canadian Pacific (CP) have earned spots on the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada list for 2022. Also, care packages from CSX, in partnership with Operation Gratitude, are headed to U.S. active-duty service members in Eastern Europe; and Newburgh & South Shore Railroad (NSR), a managed affiliate of OmniTRAX, presented a community donation to a Cleveland, Ohio-area fire department in honor of Charter Steel.

LOAD MORE