NORTH American Class 1 railway Canadian National (CN) has announced that it will undertake a capital expenditure programme worth $C 3.4bn ($US 2.46bn) this year. Various projects will focus on increasing capacity, improving safety and enabling sustainable growth.
The 2025 capital programme allocates $C 2.9bn to maintenance and strategic infrastructure initiatives across Canada and the United States. Projects already underway include relaying over 360km of rail across the CN network, as well as eight capacity enhancement projects in western Canada that are due for completion by the end of this year.
In addition to infrastructure spending, CN has allocated over $C 500m to upgrade and expand its rolling stock fleet.
CN says that capital investment totalled $C 3.5bn in 2024, including $C 1.7bn to maintain the safety and integrity of its network, particularly track. Strategic infrastructure investment projects last year included over $C 75m to lay 6.4km of double track between Sutton and Spaulding on the former Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway belt line in Chicago, increasing train speeds by 30% and capacity by 17%.
Capital investment spending to ease train movements and increase capacity in the Greater Vancouver area included an initial $C 7.6m for the Holdom Overpass project, and $C 2m for enhancements to the Thornton Tunnel. A further $C 7m was spent on upgrades to the Lulu Island and Fraser River bridges.
In the Greater Toronto area, CN and its project partners invested over $C 60m in phases 1 and 2 of the project to build a new high-efficiency fuel loading terminal within CN’s MacMillan yard in Vaughan, Ontario
"Our 2025 capital programme reflects a clear focus on strengthening the resilience, efficiency, and sustainability of our operations,” says CN president and CEO, Tracy Robinson.
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