CN has said that prior to the revised legislation the system was a disincentive to invest in grain cars. Calgary-based CP moved 2.64 million tonnes of Canadian grain and grain products in October, a company record for monthly shipments that it nearly matched in November. CN ordered 1,000 new grain cars within 24 hours of the Transportation Modernization Act coming into force in May. The legislation also includes financial penalties for railways that fail to deliver promised rail cars for grain shipments on time. The bill’s passage came after CN and CP blamed severe winter weather and a larger-than-expected grain crop for a backlog in grain shipments that hit their profits and left grain farmers complaining about their service.

Source: thestar December 31, 2018 19:56 UTC