Record earnings for CN.
The railway reports revenues of more than $4.3 billion for the past three months.
That’s an increase of 21 per cent over the same period in 2021.
CN says increased shipments of coal and U.S. grain helped.
It was also aided by freight rate increases and a weaker Canadian dollar.
Hundreds of striking CN Rail employees will be heading back to work this week.
CN and the union representing roughly 750 signals and communications workers announced late Monday that they have agreed to binding arbitration.
That means the two-week strike will end as of 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday and workers will be back on the job Wednesday morning.
“CN would like to thank its management employees and contractors for their service which allowed rail operations to continue uninterrupted during the strike,” the employer said in a news release.
Employees began their strike on June 18 after failing to reach a new agreement on wages and benefits.
CN transports more than 300 million tonnes of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year.
Don’t expect passenger rail service to expand into northwestern Ontario anytime soon.
The province announced this past week the addition of a new Ontario Northland 13-stop route on the CN rail line from Toronto to Timmins or Cochrane.
Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney says an extension isn’t on the horizon.
“While our Northern Transportation Plan itself does study and look at all regions across northern Ontario and goes all the way to the Manitoba border, that doesn’t mean that this specific network we’re discussing today will go that far,” she admits.
Mulroney says the plan will continue to look at transportation needs and opportunities across the north.
CN has announced major plans to strengthen its rail network across Ontario this year.
The company says it plans to invest roughly $310 million this year on facilities, the replacement of rail lines and ties, as well as upgrading bridges, crossings, culverts, signal systems and tracks.
Some of the highlights in the maintenance program include the replacement of more than 60 miles of rail, the installation of roughly 195,000 new railroad ties and the rebuild of 86 road crossings.
CN Rail hasn’t identified where the work will be carried out.
(Photo Credit: CN Rail
Fort Frances town council wants CN officials to talk to them about rail safety following last week’s derailment and oil spill in Emo.
Councillor Doug Judson says they are simply seeking safety reassurances.
Judson says they need to have a discussion and dialogue with officials to ensure communities remain safe.
He adds a policy framework agreement is also needed to ensure everyone is on the same page and responsible in the event of another mishap.
Judson notes there have been six derailments between Fort Frances and Chapple since 2013.
There are more questions and concerns being raised about the state of the CN rail line in the Fort Frances district.
Councillor Doug Judson says last week’s train derailment and oil spill in Emo is the latest in a series of incidents.
Judson says people are asking “why are there so many derailment within the same 40-kilometre track between Fort Frances and Chapple.”
He stress blame doesn’t need to be cast, but local politicians have to ensure residents are protected.
Judson stresses the rail line runs through the heart of municipalities and two First Nations.
CN trains are now moving again through the derailment area in Emo.
Town council held a special meeting Thursday night with CN and Hydro One officials to get an update.
Trains began moving late Thursday night, but are moving slower than usual, so motorists are asked to be patient for increased wait times at crossings and plan their routes accordingly.
Hydro One says home owners living to the east side of the derailment may experience some power outages throughout Friday morning, so they are asked to reduce usage as much as possible.
Highway 602 remains closed in both directions.
It could take a couple of days to clean up some oil from a derailment on the CN mainline in Emo.
Mayor Harold McQuaker says company officials met with them Wednesday to provide an update.
“CN told us that they were working diligently to get their rail line open. First and foremost safety was their main concern. Everybody being on the safe side and looked after. They have local contractors plus some of their own personnel at the scene.”
McQuaker adds that once the rail line is open again, then the clean-up work can begin.
He says fortunately the Rainy River and local wells were not impacted by the spill.
“It’s northern Alberta crude, which is a very heavy crude and thank god for the cold weather it’s not flowing and everything is proceeding well.”
McQuaker notes the oil containment is all on the east side of Highway 602 so there is no immediate danger to the public.
He adds everything is being handled in a timely and professional fashion.
The Transportation Safety Board and CN Rail are now investigating the cause of the incident.
Highway 602 remains closed until further notice as a result of the incident.
CN Rail and the Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of a train derailment south of Emo.
The incident happened around 8:30 Tuesday night and company officials say about 30 railcars left the track in various positions.
Several railcars were leaking crude oil, however, preliminary reports indicate no product has entered the waterway.
Local emergency responders and provincial authorities are on site and CN crews are responding.
There was no fire or injuries and some residents near the site remain evacuated as a precaution.
Highway 605 remains closed as the crossing remains blocked due to the derailment.
A statement was provided to CKDR News “CN would like to thank the emergency responders and we apologize for the disruption this incident is causing the evacuated residents and the inconvenience to the citizens of Emo.”
A week-long strike by thousands of CN Rail workers across Canada is about to come to an end.
Teamsters Canada said Tuesday it had reached a tentative agreement with CN Rail to renew the collective agreement.
Normal operations will resume Wednesday at 6 a.m. local time across the country, the union said.
“I am pleased to announce that we’ve reached a tentative agreement with CN,” said François Laporte, president of Teamsters Canada, in a news release.
More than 3,000 conductors, trainpersons and yard workers walked off the job last Tuesday with concerns about fatigue and worker safety.
Teamsters and #CN have reached a tentative agreement to renew the collective agreement for over 3,000 conductors, trainpersons and yard workers. Normal operations at CN will resume tomorrow at 0600 local time across Canada.#canlab #cdnpoli #CNStrikehttps://t.co/XpGUSUiNNs
— Teamsters Canada (@TeamstersCanada) November 26, 2019
Union officials said details of the tentative agreement will not be released until members have had the chance to review it.
The union thanked the federal government and mediators for their work, adding they were “instrumental” in helping the two sides find common ground.
“Previous governments routinely violated workers’ right to strike when it came to the rail industry,” said Laporte. “This government remained calm and focused on helping parties reach an agreement, and it worked.”
