WELLAND, Ontario — The Canadian grain scene is starting to become a lot less cylindrical. For the last 50 years Canadian Wheat Board cylindrical covered hoppers have dominated Canadian rails as the main way prairie farmers moved large grain shipments to coastal ports for export. But with Canadian National and Canadian Pacific investing in new […]
Railroad: Canadian National
STB seeks more detail on CN-KCS merger, sets timeline for voting trust comments
WASHINGTON – Federal regulators today asked Canadian National to provide more detailed financial information regarding its proposed merger with Kansas City Southern. The Surface Transportation Board, saying that it wants to take a cautious approach to CN’s request to put KCS into a voting trust while their $33.6 billion deal is under review, also set […]
Trio of shipper groups urge STB to reject CN’s voting trust plan for KCS
WASHINGTON – A coalition of shipper groups on Monday urged federal regulators to reject Canadian National’s request to put Kansas City Southern into a voting trust while their proposed merger is under review. The Freight Rail Customer Alliance, National Coal Transportation Association, and Private Railcar Food and Beverage Association said that while they had not taken […]
General Electric C44-9W profile
General Electric’s 4,400 hp C44-9Ws were, by far, the most popular D.C. traction locomotives the company every produced, with almost 3,600 copies built for North American customers. Sales began in the early 1990s just as A.C. traction was taking hold in the industry. Many railroads were still either wary of the new A.C. technology and […]
Digest: CP says CN plan to sell line in Louisiana fails to address larger competitive concerns
CP calls CN plan to sell KCS line ‘token divestment,’ remains critical of merger’s competitive impact Canadian Pacific says Canadian National’s plans to divest a Kansas City Southern line in Louisiana is “clear recognition” of the competitive issues created by the proposed CN-KCS merger. In a Thursday statement, CP also said the “token divestment” would […]
Canadian contrasts
Canadian contrasts Canadian National U-4-a 6404’s rounded contours contrast with the angular lines of a nearby SW1200RS diesel switcher, although the 4-8-4’s traditional-style signal/marker lamps, boxy numberboards, and spoked engine-truck wheels detract from its streamlined appearance. Jim Shaughnessy photo […]
CN and KCS take first step toward merger
WASHINGTON — Canadian National and Kansas City Southern today asked federal regulators to approve a voting trust that is the initial step in their plans to merge into the first railroad linking Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. To address competition concerns in the one area where the railroads’ systems overlap, CN said it will sell the […]
Kansas City Southern selects Canadian National as merger partner (updated)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Southern has officially terminated its merger agreement with Canadian Pacific and chosen to partner with Canadian National in a $33.6 billion deal to create the first railroad linking Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. “We are thrilled that KCS has agreed to combine with CN to create the premier railway for […]
CN-KCS merger would make Canadian Pacific an acquisition target, Creel says
CALGARY, Alberta – Canadian Pacific CEO Keith Creel says that if rival Canadian National acquires Kansas City Southern, the merger will destabilize the North American rail network and make CP a target for acquisition by another Class I railroad. CP today made a last-ditch effort to convince the KCS board to abandon its agreement to […]
Canadian Pacific makes final plea for Kansas City Southern to reject CN merger (updated)
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific today urged Kansas City Southern to drop its plans to merge with Canadian National, arguing that only a CP-KCS combination could win regulatory approval. “We believe that the KCS Board has a clear path to conclude that the level of risk surrounding a CN-KCS transaction and CN’s ability to close […]
Canadian National has no plans to drop bid for KCS, despite concerns of major investor
MONTREAL – Canadian National has no plans to back off from its proposed acquisition of Kansas City Southern and remains confident that it can obtain the necessary regulatory approvals to create the first railroad linking Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, CEO JJ Ruest said today. Ruest’s comments came a day after CN’s fifth-largest shareholder, TCI […]
Canadian National files KCS merger agreement, again seeks approval of voting trust
MONTREAL — Canadian National today filed its Kansas City Southern merger agreement with federal regulators, and asked the Surface Transportation Board to adopt an expedited schedule for reviewing its request to put KCS into a voting trust. In what CN termed a procedural move, the STB on Monday denied CN’s request to place KCS into […]