The Canadian National Railway Company (CN) is planning to invest C$315m ($238.9m) this year in an effort to strengthen the rail network across the province of Ontario.
The investment, which is part of the CN’s C$3.4bn ($2.58bn) capital programme for 2018, will be used to add a train passing siding in CN’s transcontinental corridor and expand intermodal rail yards to facilitate container movement across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
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Various replacement and maintenance works will also be undertaken across the province to enhance operational safety and efficiency.
CN Eastern Region vice-president Michael Farkouh said: “We are investing for the long haul with these projects to boost capacity and network resiliency to meet growing demand across our economy.
“Our investments in track and intermodal yard capacity combined with new equipment will help us deliver superior service to our customers in Ontario and North America.
“Additionally, our substantial investments to renew our existing railway infrastructure underscores our commitment to operating safely.”
The expansion and maintenance projects planned with the investment include bolstering the capacity of a satellite intermodal facility near CN’s Brampton Intermodal Terminal and construction of a new train passing siding east of Sioux Lookout.
The scheme will also feature the replacement of 90 miles of rail, the installation of around 380,000 new railroad ties and maintenance work on multiple bridges, signal systems and other track infrastructure.
CN’s Ontario rail network includes 2,510 miles of railway route. It also hosts the MacMillan Yard and Brampton Intermodal Terminal, respectively CN’s rail car classification and intermodal facilities.
In the last five years, CN has invested more than C$1.2bn ($910m) in the Ontario rail infrastructure.
