CN to build 5 sidings
23.07.2012
Canadian National Railway Company (CN) plans to construct five long sidings on its British Columbia North Line this year to handle increasing cargo volumes transported along its Edmonton, Alberta-Prince Rupert corridor.
The expansion works are part of a multi-year CAD155 million (US$152.08 million) capital expenditure programme to raise freight train capacity. As for its overall North American railway network the company plans to invest a total of CAD1.8 billion this year to maintain and upgrade it, support growth and productivity initiatives.
A press release from the railway operator said more than half a million carloads/intermodal units moved over its B.C. North corridor in 2011. Management expects traffic on this line to nearly double by 2015.
It has extended or constructed 21 sidings to handle 12,000-foot trains between Edmonton and Prince Rupert since 2004. This is in addition to new signalling and train control, several tunnel and bridge clearances, yard expansions at Smithers and Terrace, B.C., and the installation of a longer siding at Swan Landing, Alberta.
Investments in capital expansion since 2004 along the Edmonton-Prince Rupert corridor will total more than CAD150 million by the end of this year, with further extended sidings expected to be built in future years.
Keith Creel, executive vice-president and chief operating officer, said: "CN's sizable investments in rail infrastructure in northern B.C. and western Alberta are helping us accommodate growing import-export traffic moving between the Port of Prince Rupert, the B.C. interior and major centres across CN's network in Canada and the United States.
"The investments will also help us better move rising export coal volumes from existing and new mines in the region to Ridley Terminals at Prince Rupert, whose handling capacity is expected to double by the end of 2014 to 24 million tonnes."
"The longer sidings increase the fluidity of operations in this major CN freight corridor and allow us to haul increased volumes in safer, more efficient trains equipped with distributed power (DP) technology."
DP permits remote control of a locomotive or locomotives throughout a train from the lead control locomotive. DP is said to provide faster, smoother train starts, improved braking and lower pulling forces at the head-end of a train, and improved safety. With more optimum matching of motive power to train weight, DP locomotives also allow CN to reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions that are damaging to the environment, the Shipping Gazette reports.
The expansion works are part of a multi-year CAD155 million (US$152.08 million) capital expenditure programme to raise freight train capacity. As for its overall North American railway network the company plans to invest a total of CAD1.8 billion this year to maintain and upgrade it, support growth and productivity initiatives.
A press release from the railway operator said more than half a million carloads/intermodal units moved over its B.C. North corridor in 2011. Management expects traffic on this line to nearly double by 2015.
It has extended or constructed 21 sidings to handle 12,000-foot trains between Edmonton and Prince Rupert since 2004. This is in addition to new signalling and train control, several tunnel and bridge clearances, yard expansions at Smithers and Terrace, B.C., and the installation of a longer siding at Swan Landing, Alberta.
Investments in capital expansion since 2004 along the Edmonton-Prince Rupert corridor will total more than CAD150 million by the end of this year, with further extended sidings expected to be built in future years.
Keith Creel, executive vice-president and chief operating officer, said: "CN's sizable investments in rail infrastructure in northern B.C. and western Alberta are helping us accommodate growing import-export traffic moving between the Port of Prince Rupert, the B.C. interior and major centres across CN's network in Canada and the United States.
"The investments will also help us better move rising export coal volumes from existing and new mines in the region to Ridley Terminals at Prince Rupert, whose handling capacity is expected to double by the end of 2014 to 24 million tonnes."
"The longer sidings increase the fluidity of operations in this major CN freight corridor and allow us to haul increased volumes in safer, more efficient trains equipped with distributed power (DP) technology."
DP permits remote control of a locomotive or locomotives throughout a train from the lead control locomotive. DP is said to provide faster, smoother train starts, improved braking and lower pulling forces at the head-end of a train, and improved safety. With more optimum matching of motive power to train weight, DP locomotives also allow CN to reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions that are damaging to the environment, the Shipping Gazette reports.
