CN Rail to spend $2.5B on infrastructure, expansion projects in 2017
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
A decrease from last year's $2.9 billion capital spending plan, CN will invest in repairing infrastructure, as well as new technology and safety systems
The company will spend the majority of the funds on maintaining its thousands of miles of rail infrastructure. PHOTO: CN
MONTREAL—Canadian National Railway announced Feb. 9 its planned $2.5 billion capital program for 2017.
This is a decrease from the $2.9 billion in capital investment CN planned for in 2016.
CN plans to invest approximately $1.6 billion, consistent with last year’s investment, on track infrastructure. The planned work includes the replacement of 2.2 million rail ties and installation of more than 600 miles of new rail, plus work on bridges, branch line upgrades and other general track maintenance.
Approximately $500 million is expected to be spent on equipment, expansion projects and information technology initiatives. This includes investments in Canadian west coast port expansions and customer projects, as well as safety technology investments, such as wayside inspection systems and track testing vehicles.
Roughly $400 million is earmarked to advance the implementation of safety technology mandated by the United States Congress, along parts of CN’s U.S. network. CN plans to invest a total of US$1.2 billion in the entire project by 2020.
“Our 2017 capital program maintains a steady level of investment focused on the maintenance and integrity of our network,” said Luc Jobin, CN’s president and chief executive officer.
