(Source: CN press release, July 5, 2012)
EDMONTON — CN announced today that it plans to construct five extended sidings on its B.C. North Line in 2012 as part of a multi-year capital program to expand freight train capacity to handle growing freight volumes along its important Edmonton, Alta.-Prince Rupert, B.C., corridor.
In 2011, more than half a million carloads/intermodal units moved over CN’s B.C. North corridor. By 2015, CN traffic on this line could nearly double.
CN 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 signaling 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, Alta.
CN’s investments since 2004 in capacity expansion along the Edmonton-Prince Rupert corridor will total more than C$150 million by the end of this year, with further extended sidings expected to be built in future years.