The CN Railway is planning to invest roughly $210 million to expand and strengthen its rail network in Saskatchewan.
Doug Ryhorchuk, vice-president of CN’s western region, said the 2018 investment will help deliver better service to their grain, energy and other customers across the province and North America.
The investment includes new double track in three locations along the company’s transcontinental corridor across Saskatchewan.
Planned expansion projects include:
- Sixteen kilometres of double track just east of Melville;
- About 11 kilometres of double track west of the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border;
- About 18 kilometres of double track near the Alberta-Saskatchewan border; and
- Installation of new track capacity at CN’s Melville yard.
Other projects will focus on the replacement, upgrade and maintenance of key track infrastructure to improve safety and efficiency.
Maintenance highlights include:
- Replacement of around 64 kilometres of rail;
- Installation of over 180,000 new railroad ties;
- Rebuilds of around 20 road crossing surfaces; and
- Work on bridges, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.
Across its network, CN continues to invest in infrastructure and equipment. This month, the company will obtain 60 new locomotives.
After adding hundreds of conductors this year, CN said it will continue to hire with a particular focus on crews in Melville and other terminals in Western Canada.
The Saskatchewan investments are part of CN’s $3.4 billion capital program for 2018.