CN publishes 'Grain Plan' for next crop year

CN has posted on its website a plan for servicing the 2018-19 grain crop.

The report is what the Class I is calling a first annual public Grain Plan, developed after "extensive consultation with key stakeholders," according to the website.

The plan includes its earlier announcement that CN is acquiring new high-capacity hopper cars and locomotives, and is increasing staff to service the crop.

"We qualified hundreds of new train crew members so far this year and we intend to enter next winter with 1,250 more qualified conductors than we had heading into last winter," CN President and Chief Executive Officer JJ Ruest said in the plan's opening message. "As well, we are adding people in operations to run safe and reliable service."

The Class I's record $3.5 billion capital program for 2018 includes $400 million to increase the network's capacity and resilience through line upgrades and double-tracking primarily across western provinces.

In an interview with Bloomberg published yesterday, Ruest vowed that CN would be able to cope with a surge in energy shipments without displacing longtime railroad staples such as grain shipments.

Earlier this year, CN ousted Ruest's predecessor Luc Jobin after the Class I faced bottlenecks and customer complaints — particularly from grain farmers — over slow shipments.