Railways 101

Enabling Canada’s World-Class Supply Chain

Capital investments by Canadian Class 1 railways are expected to exceed $4.5 billion in 2021. The investments in infrastructure and equipment are enabling railways to better serve their customers by enhancing the safety, efficiency and resiliency of the network.

Canada’s two Class 1 railways – CN and CP – have put in place comprehensive, robust and focused action plans to get Canadian grain safely and efficiently to market during the 2020-2021 crop year.

Investing in infrastructure, equipment and people

This year, railways are replacing, upgrading and maintaining key infrastructure. In addition, railways have ordered thousands of new, high-capacity grain hopper cars from National Steel Car in Hamilton, Ont., and employ approximately 47,000 people across North America.

Canada’s railways have ordered thousands of new, high-capacity grain hopper cars from National Steel Car in Hamilton, Ont. (Photo: National Steel Car)

Prepared for the 2019-2020 crop year

Canada’s two Class 1 railways – CN and CP – have put in place comprehensive, robust and focused action plans to get Canadian grain safely and efficiently to market during the 2019-2020 crop year. They have shared these plans with the government and are following through on these strategies to ensure Canada maintains its reputation as a reliable export partner. In addition, both railways are voluntarily sharing information about their performance during the 2019-2020 crop year, including details on internal or external factors affecting grain movement.