Investments focused on safety and capacity to strengthen rail network, help reduce emissions, and support economic growth
CN Investing $60 Million in Louisiana
“We take our essential role in the North American economy seriously and these investments in Louisiana are a key part of our strategy to support growth. The Company remains committed to help enable supply chains that fuel Louisiana’s growth as we are a critical part of getting everyday goods to markets and consumers. Safety is a core value at CN and by investing in the maintenance and expansion of our track and capacity, we are providing customers with a safe and reliable solution at a time when fluid supply chains are more critical than ever.”
- Derek Taylor, Vice-President, Eastern Region at CN
The Company’s investments will create greater capacity, which supports reductions in its customer’s transportation supply chain GHG emissions, by encouraging the use of rail for long haul needs. This reduces emissions, traffic congestion, accidents and burdens on public transportation infrastructure as one freight train can replace over 300 trucks from roads. Moving freight by rail instead of truck reduces GHG emissions by 75%. The Company will continue to deploy important safety enhancing technologies across its network, such as the Autonomous Track Inspection Program, Distributed Air Cars and Automated Inspection Portals.
“Every economic recovery is enabled by robust infrastructure investments and open access to markets. That is why CN’s more than $280 million of private capital investment in Louisiana over the last five years will enable US products to find global markets to drive a quick economic rebound.”
– John Bel Edwards, Governor of the State of Louisiana
Maintenance program highlights include:
- Replacement of 6 miles of rail
- Installation of over 20,000 new railroad ties
- Rebuilds of 21 road crossing surfaces
- Maintenance work on bridges, level crossings, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure
Louisiana in numbers:
- Capital investments: More than $ 280 million in the last five years
- Employees: approximately 328
- Railroad route miles operated: 227
- Community partnerships: $65,000 in 2019
- Local spending: $28 million in 2019
- Cash taxes paid: $6 million in 2019
At the southern terminus of CN’s North American network, Louisiana handles growing volumes of traffic, most notably in the triangle formed by Hammond, Baton Rouge and the Port of New Orleans. CN’s major yards are in Baton Rouge, Geismar and Harrahan (Mays Yard) outside of New Orleans. At Mays Yard, CN connects to the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, which links the city’s six Class I railroads. CN also has an intermodal facility in New Orleans. The Port of New Orleans has an intermodal terminal adjacent to its Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal providing on-dock access for all rail shipments. The Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal is a modern, efficient transfer terminal, offering on-dock access and helping to grow CN’s container volumes.
CN Investing $50 Million in Mississippi
CN also announced today that, as part of its strategic investments to support growing demand and enable supply chains, it plans to invest approximately $50 million (USD) across Mississippi in 2020. The investments will focus on continued investment in Positive Train Control, the replacement of rail and ties, as well as maintenance of bridges, level crossings, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.
“Sustained, long term investment in infrastructure is the key to keeping Mississippi poised for a rapid economic recovery. With this announcement, CN will have contributed more than $350 million to its rail network in our state in the last five years. Their commitment is unmatched and greatly appreciated!”
- Tom King, Southern District Transportation Commissioner at the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
The Company’s investments will create greater capacity, which supports reductions in its customer’s transportation supply chain GHG emissions, by encouraging the use of rail for long haul needs. This reduces emissions, traffic congestion, accidents and burdens on public transportation infrastructure as one freight train can replace over 300 trucks from roads. Moving freight by rail instead of truck reduces GHG emissions by 75%. The Company will continue to deploy important safety enhancing technologies across its network, such as the Autonomous Track Inspection Program, Distributed Air Cars and Automated Inspection Portals.
Maintenance program highlights include:
- Replacement of 12 miles of rail
- Installation of over 125,000 new railroad ties
- Rebuilds of 31 road crossing surfaces
- Maintenance work on bridges, level crossings, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure
Mississippi in numbers:
- Capital investments: More than $365 million in the last five years
- Employees: approximately 459
- Railroad route miles operated: 575
- Community partnerships: $115,000 in 2019
- Local spending: $78 million in 2019
- Cash taxes paid: $15 million in 2019
CN’s network criss-crosses Mississippi, with a rail yard in Jackson serving as a hub for petroleum headed to the western part of the Magnolia State, coal moving east to Alabama, grain shipping south to the Gulf Coast for export, and chemical products headed north to the Midwest. Intermodal products destined throughout North America are handled through the intermodal terminal in Jackson. CN also has an automotive distribution facility serving the Nissan assembly plant in Canton.
