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Canadian National to improve branch lines in Western Canada
Can anyone tell us just what CN has done east of Edmonton? How many miles of double track, number of new sidings, number that have been lengthened and by how much. What is the standard siding length these days? Has the Canadian’s time keeping improved?
Thats a lot of questions eh!
Good news. Now, how about restoring the double track between Fitzwilliam and Grantbrook on CN’s Albreda sub? Creating a 6+ miles single-track gap on CN’s most heavily trafficked funnel between Jasper and RedPass was an unwise cost-cutting move that would have been more appropriate in the dark times of the 1980’s, not in the booming traffic era of the early 2000’s. Now, it’s a thorn in CN’s side which hampers fluid operations over Yellowhead pass.
CN has added38 miles of 2 tracks to the Watrous sub in 4 sections. One piece on the Rivers sub at 9.7 miles. Sidings are all pretty much 12000’ or more.
Progressive Railroading’s 2015 MOW spending report says CN is adding 2 sections of double track to the Rivers sub. One is to connect 2 sidings to make a 9.7 mile section and the other is a new 10 mile section. It doesn’t say where. CN is building new or extending more sidings from Vancouver and Prince Rupert to Chicago with a minimum 12000’ length.
Mr. Turcotte is right about the Albreda sub, They should also put back in the pieces of the Edson sub that EHH took out. In fact the Edson sub should be ALL double track.
I don’t think this has helped the Canadian’s timekeeping though.