BNSF and CN raise issues over CP-KCS merger

Train of auto racks meets locomotives

WASHINGTON — BNSF Railway and Canadian National have raised issues with federal regulators’ timeline for review of the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger. BNSF, in a filing posted today on the Surface Transportation Board’s website, said the 90-day comment period was insufficient given the ramifications of how the merger would affect traffic moving between […]

Read More…

CN pledges to achieve net-zero carbon operations by 2050

Canadian National logo

MONTREAL — Canadian National has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, becoming the first North American railroad to do so by joining the Business Ambition for 1.5°C and United Nations Race to Zero campaigns. “CN’s pledge to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 further builds upon our commitment to short-, medium- and long-term targets, […]

Read More…

Thanksgiving in Toronto

Thanksgiving in Toronto was about to begin. Shortly before noon, two teenagers swung down from the Pacific’s cab. Just as they hit the station platform, two peeps came from the cab communication whistle. The fireman turned around, waving a good-bye, and Canadian Pacific train 326 was in motion — 11 minutes away from its final […]

Read More…

Analysis: Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger has all the right stuff

CP_Heritage_1_Smedley

The proposed merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern – the first combination of Class I systems in two decades, and likely the last – should win favor in Washington. After all, their comprehensive merger application checks all of the Surface Transportation Board’s boxes. More rail competition? Canadian Pacific Kansas City has that in […]

Read More…

CN to purchase Wabtec battery-electric locomotive

Red and gray locomotive

MONTREAL — Canadian National will be the first North American buyer of Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive, for its Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad. The railroad calls the locomotive’s technology key to transitioning to a lower-carbon future, and says Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection is providing financial support under the Marine and Rail Freight Movers Grant […]

Read More…

CN, Progress Rail to work together on renewable fuels testing

Canadian National logo

MONTREAL — Canadian National and Progress Rail are joining with a renewable fuels company to test biodiesel and renewable diesel fuels in locomotives. The companies have announced they will work with Renewable Energy Group to better understand the long-term impacts of renewable fuels on locomotives, especially in cold weather, and determine any modifications necessary to […]

Read More…

CN letter to shareholders attacks activist investor, questions focus on operating ratio

Canadian National logo

MONTREAL — Canadian National has issued a seven-page document regarding the proxy fight led by activist investor TCI Fund Management in which it says TCI’s “motives are highly suspect and its approach to railroading is outdated, myopic, and destructive to longer-term value.” The “Letter to Stockholders” issued Tuesday morning by the CN board of directors […]

Read More…

Norfolk Southern warns that COVID-19 vaccine mandate poses risks to service (updated)

James Squires

NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern CEO Jim Squires warned today that the railroad’s train crew shortages may be exacerbated by the federal COVID-19 vaccination mandate that takes effect on Dec. 8. Like CSX Transportation, NS is experiencing higher than normal attrition among its train crews and is having trouble hiring new conductors due to the […]

Read More…

CN names former BNSF official to board of directors (updated)

Canadian National logo

MONTREAL — Canadian National has named Jo-ann dePass Olsovsky to its board of directors, effective immediately. Olsovsky, 56, is executive vice president and chief information officer at Salesforce, and previously spent 12 years at BNSF Railway as senior vice president and chief information officer. Her BNSF experience included overseeing the railroad’s drone inspection operations for […]

Read More…

Fatigue likely contributed to 2020 collision between VIA train, CN hi-rail vehicle

Transportation Safety Board of Canada logo

GATINEAU, Quebec — Fatigue on the part of a signal maintainer may have been a factor in a December 2020 collision between a VIA Rail Canada passenger train and a Canadian National hi-rail vehicle, according to a Transportation Safety Board of Canada report released Tuesday. In the Dec. 6, 2020, incident at Les Cédres, Quebec, […]

Read More…

CN CEO JJ Ruest to step down amid proxy contest

Canadian National logo

MONTREAL — Canadian National CEO JJ Ruest will retire in January, the railroad announced today amid the ongoing proxy contest launched by activist investor TCI Fund Management. No successor was named, and CN’s announcement came a day after TCI released its plan touting former CN Chief Operating Officer Jim Vena as its chief executive candidate […]

Read More…