DECEMBER 2023 19 WINTER PLANS In our previous issue, we examined the 2023–24 Grain Plan for both the Canadian National Railway Company (CN) and the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKC) railroad. Not to be confused with the Grain Plan, CPKC released its 2023-2024 Winter Contingency Report, and in early October, CN released its 2023-2024 Winter Plan—their plans on how each will keep its customers happy with timely pickups and delivery throughout these winter months. The plans for the two railroads are submitted to the Canadian federal Minister of Transport as required by Section 151 01 (2) of the Canada Transportation Act. Both railroads state within their reports that the plan is to keep their customers happy and to ensure they remain profitable. But as Scottish poet Rabbie (Robert) Burns once quipped, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” We certainly don’t wish ill on CN or its competitive track, CPKC, but it appears as though neither railroad can win for trying. In recent years, since both came under criticism from the Canadian agricultural sector about not being prepared to better handle the pickup and delivery of grains et al to further transportation points, they each have worked hard to increase their capital purchases to be a good transportation option. Right now, there are only CN and CPKC—the Big 2—involved in Canadian rail transportation, and each got a bit larger in its reach across North America. In March 2023, Canadian Pacific acquired the Kansas City Southern railroad company for US$31 billion, which also included the Kansas City Southern Mexico railroad subsidiary. The acquisition and merger make it easier for Canadian grain et al to be transported along the Gulf Coast into the US and down into Mexico. Not to be outdone, CN also sought to expand its reach and did so with the formation of Falcon Premium intermodal service—that includes CN, the US-stationed Union Pacific railroad, and the Mexican railway, Grupo Mexico. Although it operates from The winter 2023-2024 plans for CN and CPKC A look at some of the issues Canada’s Big-2 railroads are most concerned about and what they have planned for the winter of 2023-2024. By Andrew Joseph, Editor Safe and steady is a core mantra of Canadian National as it strives to meet customer demands during the 2023–2024 winter season. Photo courtesy of CN.
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