1. Challenging Winter Operations Conditions
*WINNIPEG
Days below -300 C
This winter
Last winter
Difference:
17
6
11 more
 Major railways in North America affected
 Frequency and duration of extreme cold temperatures
in these regions most challenging
 Shorter trains increases the number of trains and increases
dwell at port and inland terminals
NORTHERN ONTARIO
SASKATOON
Days below -300 C
Days below
This winter
Last winter
Difference:
-300
C
This winter
Last winter
Difference:
21
11
+10
HALIFAX
RANIER
Total Snowfall
Days below
This winter
Last winter
Difference:
-300
C
This winter
Last winter
Difference:
21
6
+15
127.4 cm
15.9 cm
+1.2 Meter
TORONTO
CHICAGO
Total Snowfall
Total Snowfall
This winter
Last winter
Difference:
20
9
+11
120.2 cm
8.9 cm
+1.1 Meter
Winter: As per Accuweather from 1 December to 31 January
* “Coldest December and January in
65 years — and second coldest in
120 years”
Environment Canada
This winter
Last winter
Difference:
50.9 cm
30.8 cm
+20.1 cm

2. Winter Operating Plan in Effect
• CN operating double the number of trains (26/week) on
the alternate “Prairie North Line” route to the West coast
courtesy of $100M investment in 2013
• Aggressive use of “distributed power” locomotives at middle
or tail end of trains allows for increased double-stack train lengths
• NOMINAL TRAIN LENGHT: 3,000 m
- 30C to -25C:
3,000m with DP power vs. 2,000m without
- 35C to -30C:
2,500m with DP power vs. 1,500m without
< -35C: 2,160m with DP power vs. 1,100m without
• Management personnel deployed to field operations
to help run trains, operate and manage container
terminals