CN: Humboldt will be home to community trail, upgraded rail line

CN officials yesterday helped citizens of Humboldt, Saskatchewan, inaugurate a community trail project that's part of the "CN EcoConnexions - From the Ground Up" program.

Humboldt is one of 25 communities selected to receive funding through the program, which aims to promote the greening of municipal properties across Canada, especially near rail lines. CN has partnered with Tree Canada and Communities in Bloom to help Canadian municipalities establish tree planting initiatives in a sustainable manner.

Humboldt's community trail project involves the planting of trees and shrubs along the proposed trail route, enhancing municipal land alongside local CN property, railroad officials said in a press release.

The Class I plans to soon begin upgrading a line that runs through Humboldt. The work will involve the installation of new ties and rail, and construction of new sidings to handle a projected traffic increase.

"Agriculture has long been the backbone of the economy here, along with forestry. Both those industries are doing well, and we're now seeing great growth in the petrochemical industry along this rail line," said CN President and Chief Executive Officer Claude Mongeau. "[The project] will help the line through Humboldt become an important 'relief valve' for our more southerly mainline corridor when necessary, giving us greater overall network flexibility and resilience."