Teamsters Canada calls for strike authorization vote by CN and CPKC train crews (updated)

CN intermodal train stopped in mountain setting

The union representing Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City engineers and conductors in Canada has authorized a strike vote as labor and management remain far apart on new contracts. Leaders of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference told their members on Thursday that a strike vote will be held from April 8 to May 1. […]

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STB denies CPKC request to give CN’s acquisition of Iowa Northern a more thorough review

Canadian National and lease locomotive with Iowa Northern locomotives on bridge

WASHINGTON – Federal regulators have rejected Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s contention that Canadian National’s proposed acquisition of 218-mile short line Iowa Northern should be subject to a more thorough review as a “significant” transaction. In a decision issued on Friday, the Surface Transportation Board denied CPKC’s petition that had asked the board to reconsider its […]

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CN derailment reported in Sarnia, Ontario

Canadian National logo

SARNIA, Ontario — Fourteen cars of a Canadian National train, including three tank cars carrying liquified petroleum gas, have derailed this morning as the train entered the railroad’s Sarnia yard, CKNX Radio reports. No leaks have been reported. At least one grade crossing, at St. Andrew Street, has been blocked by the derailment. No other […]

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Canadian government to fund rail project at Port of Montreal

Containers on dock at port

MONTREAL — The Canadian government will fund a C$16.75 million project to improve rail access and add storage at the Port of Montreal, Transportation Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced Monday, March 25. The project will include rehabilitation of, and adding a fourth track to, the Pie-IX rail bridge, along with adding a storage area, which Transport […]

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News Photos: CN business train in Illinois

Theater car at end of business train

BARTLETT, Ill. — Canadian National’s business train makes a stop at Spaulding Junction in Chicago’s western suburbs to board officials and invited guests during a trip on Wednesday, March 20. The train was led by Wabtec AC44C6M No. 3309, the locomotive featuring the revived steam-era “wafer” logo [see “Canadian National revives …,” Trains News Wire, […]

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Illinois senators meet with CN CEO about Chicago Hub project

Passenger train with Chicago skyline in background

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth (both D-Ill.) met with Canadian National Railway CEO Tracy Robinson on Tuesday to discuss the railroad’s involvement in the Chicago Hub Improvement Program, the plan to modernize Chicago Union Station and rail routes leading to the station. U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Chicago) also participated in the […]

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Union, railroad take issue with TSB report on alcohol’s role in 2021 CN collision

Badly damaged locomotives from head-on collision

PRESCOTT, Ontario — The union representing rail traffic controllers and Canadian National Railway have both taken issue with a report by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada citing alcohol use by a controller as a factor in a September 2021 collision involving two CN trains — although for very different reasons. The report issued March […]

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Canadian government provides $6.7 million for improvements at Port of Thunder Bay

Aerial view of facility at port

THUNDER BAY, Ontario — The Canadian government will provide up to C$6.7 million for two projects to increase capacity at the Port of Thunder Bay, according to a Friday announcement. Up to C$3 million will go to a project to redevelop an existing rail yard at the Port’s Keefer Terminal, adding heavyweight track and switches […]

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Effects of alcohol consumption by controller played role in 2021 CN collision, TSB report says

Badly damaged locomotives from head-on collision

GATINEAU, Quebec — Effects of alcohol consumption by the rail traffic controller involved were likely a factor in a September 2021 collision between a Canadian National intermodal train and industrial switcher at Prescott, Ontario, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said in an accident report issued today (Wednesday, March 13). As a result, the TSB […]

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Waterloo, Iowa, receives federal funds for possible rail yard relocation

Aerial view of railroad yard

WATERLOO, Iowa — The city of Waterloo has received a $750,000 grant to begin preparations for possible relocation Canadian National Railway’s yard from downtown Waterloo to outside of town, along with other rail projects to improve safety, traffic flow, and pedestrian access. The project will be funded from the Department of Transportation’s Neighborhood Access and […]

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Inside a CN “Skyview” obs car

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Passengers on Canadian National’s Scotian between Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia, enjoy the view from one of CN’s “Skyview” sleeper-observation cars in September 1967. Built by Pullman-Standard for the Milwaukee Road’s Olympian Hiawatha, the six “Skytop” cars, as MILW called them, were sold to CN after the Olympian Hi was discontinued. George G. Weiss photo […]

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STB must give CN-Iowa Northern deal more scrutiny, CPKC says

Canadian National and lease locomotive with Iowa Northern locomotives on bridge

WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific Kansas City insists that it did not miss any deadlines when it asked federal regulators to give Canadian National’s proposed acquisition of Iowa Northern Railway a more thorough review. CN this week claimed that CPKC missed two deadlines when it asked the Surface Transportation Board to consider the $230 million deal […]

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