Jan.23--THE acquisition of Chicago's Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway (EJ&E) has "transformed" operation of the Canadian National Railway, says company president and CEO Claude Mongeau.
"Almost 30 per cent of CN's revenue ton-miles are in the United States, so the US," he said. "our northbound traffic has grown faster than southbound freight over the past five years.
"As such, we play an important role in moving US exports to both Canada and offshore destinations," Mr Mongeau said.
Speaking to the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers, Mr Mongeau said investment in the EJ&E kept the network fluid, and helped the railway handle rising demand and free up capacity.
Mr Mongeau said that CN's substantial presence in the US Midwest is the product of a series of rail acquisitions and investments that have extended its network reach south, north and west of Chicago.
In the past five years, CN has invested well over US$1 billion dollars in its Midwest operations, he said.
With 25 per cent of its freight traffic touching the city, CN's Chicago focus is on network efficiencies, close collaboration with other carriers, he said.
"The EJ&E allows us to seamlessly connect our five rail lines entering Chicago and to avoid congested inner city rail corridors. This is a clear gain for CN, but it also frees up capacity for other carriers on the Belt Railway of Chicago and Indiana Harbour Belt - a benefit for the entire greater Chicago rail network," he said.
Mr Mongeau said the "J" is helping CN accommodate rising traffic, which has been growing strongly across all business units for the past five years in both Canada and the United States.
(Source:shippingazette)