CN outlines Ontario capex projects, reaches tentative pacts with Unifor

CN will spend CA$320 million this year on projects to expand and maintain its infrastructure in Ontario, the Class I announced yesterday.

Planned expansion project investments will include a satellite intermodal facility near CN's Brampton intermodal terminal to provide more capacity; intermodal equipment and infrastructure at the Brampton terminal; and facility improvements at the Toronto auto compound.

This year's Ontario maintenance program will include replacing more than 75 miles of rail; installing more than 325,000 new ties; rebuilding 94 crossing surfaces; and performing work on bridges, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.

"Following a record capital program in 2018, CN has been able to take on more traffic from different commodity sectors based on contracts with our customers," said Doug MacDonald, vice president of CN’s eastern region. "This year, we are continuing to invest to boost capacity and network resiliency and to meet growing traffic on our corridors across Ontario."

The Ontario projects are part of CN’s 2019 record CA$3.9 billion capital expenditure program.

Meanwhile, CN, CN Transportation Ltd in Montreal and Unifor National Council 4000 have reached four tentative new labor agreements, Unifor announced late last week.

Bargaining began Jan. 24 with four separate committees. The tentative agreements cover work rules, wages and benefits, although details will not be made public until after they are presented to members at ratification meetings.

The council represents 3,300 rail workers across Canada.