CN Rail will spend approximately $305 million across Alberta in 2020, including the construction of more double track on CN’s mainline. Included in the plan is a maintenance program that will focus on the replacement of rail and ties, as well as maintenance work on level crossings, bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure.
“We take our essential role in the North American economy seriously and these investments in Alberta are a key part of our strategy to support growth,” says James Thompson, vice-president, Western Region at CN.
The railway says that the construction and maintenance projects will create greater capacity to reduce transportation supply chain GHG emissions and encourage the use of rail for long-haul needs. One freight train can replace over 300 trucks from roads, and moving freight by rail instead of truck reduces GHG emissions by 75 per cent, CN says.
Planned expansion projects include the construction of about five miles of double track between Vancouver and Edmonton, near Hinton. The maintenance program includes replacement of approximately 71 miles of rail, installation of over 210,000 new railroad ties, rebuilds of 28 road crossing surfaces, and maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure.
