(The Canadian Press circulated the following on October 9.)
MONTREAL — The railway did not release the cost of the program in a statement Thursday from Duluth, Minn.
Delivery of the new cars is to begin in January, allowing CN to retire the same number of old cars from its 2,200-car complement hauling pelletized iron ore produced in the Upper Midwest.
The fleet refurbishment is underway, installing new trucks and couplers, modernizing brakes and repairing unloading mechanisms.
“CN’s iron ore business in the U.S. is performing well and we anticipate continued strength in this market segment in future,” stated James Foote, the railway’s executive vice-president of sales.
CN carries iron ore from three mines in northern Minnesota and one in northern Michigan, mainly to Great Lakes ports for transport to North American steel mills.