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8/21/2023
CN is preparing its grain car fleet for this year’s fall grain harvest. As of mid-July, CN had more than 4,100 cars — or more than 36% of its Western Canadian grain hopper car fleet — parked, of which 3,650 were in long-term storage, CN officials said in a news release.
Typically, CN completes car inspections and repairs between August and early September to prepare for peak grain season demand.
The Class I's summer reliability‑based maintenance program for car fleets uses repair data to identify cars with a high probability of failure and/or customer reject cars (cars with faulty gates or doors).
CN also has implemented detector technology to identify cars with partially applied hand brakes. Both initiatives help the railroad prioritize grain hopper car repairs and get cars back in service quickly, CN officials said.
Well-maintained equipment helps avoid costly breakdowns and delays. However, opportunities for further improvement remain, CN officials said.