CN supports Garneau's train speed amendment

CN officials announced the company supports the decision by Canada's Transport Minister Marc Garneau to amend his Feb. 7 order that restricted the speed of trains hauling dangerous goods on all of the nation's railway networks.

The initial order reduced by at least a third CN's overall network capacity for all trains, even those not carrying dangerous goods, CN officials said in a press release.

The minister's revised order to takes into account the railway's tracks equipped with automated signaling technology — which represents the vast majority of CN's network — will enable the company to recover more efficiently from current protest blockades on its network, they said.

"We are committed to working over the next several weeks with Transport Canada on recommendations to increase overall safety by reducing derailments," said CN President and Chief Executive Officer JJ Ruest.

Earlier this month, Garneau ordered a 30-day speed limit for trains hauling dangerous goods, including crude oil. The order was prompted by two separate incidents in which Canadian Pacific crude-oil trains derailed.

Meanwhile, CN announced on Feb. 13 that it has begun a shutdown of its operations in Eastern Canada until protest blockades on its lines in Ontario are removed. On Feb. 15, the Class I announced new blockades were occurring on its network — one in Vancouver, British Columbia, and two in Vaughan, Ontario. The railroad obtained court orders to seek law enforcement assistance in ending those blockades, CN officials said.

Garneau's updated ruling will allow CN "to use our capacity to recover in the Western region as we resume the delivery of our customers’ goods," said Ruest.

"We will implement a similar recovery plan across our Eastern region when all the blockades are fully ended, including the one in Belleville, Ontario, which is into its 10th day," he said.