Meeting hears more rolling stock, staff, track, will void grain shipment snags
SASKATOON — They’re not guaranteeing improved grain transportation by this winter, but Canada’s two biggest railways say they believe new locomotives, hopper cars and extra staff will make a difference getting crops to market in the months ahead.
That was the message Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways presented Wednesday in Saskatoon at a meeting with farm groups, grain industry officials and members of the federal cabinet.
The meeting was requested by Transport Minister Marc Garneau, who says he wants to avoid a repeat of last winter’s grain-shipping backlog that farmers have said cost them millions of dollars in lost income.
Jean-Jacques Ruest, president and CEO of CN Rail, says his company is buying more cars and locomotives, hiring and training extra crews and adding track to move a greater volume of grain.