CN Rail - Photo credit to The Canadian Press

By Dori Modney with files from CN

CN Rail to Shutdown

Protests and blockades force CN to shutdown its Eastern Canadian Network

Feb 13, 2020 | 4:08 PM

MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway has announced that it has been forced to “initiate a disciplined and progressive shutdown of its operations in Eastern Canada.”

The shutdown is expected to lead to layoffs.

In a news release, CN blames protest blockades for the stoppage of all transcontinental trains across its Canadian network.

“CN sought and obtained court orders and requested the assistance of enforcement agencies for the illegal blockades in Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia. While the illegal blockades have come to an end in Manitoba and may be ending imminently in British Columbia, the orders of the court in Ontario have yet to be enforced and continue to be ignored. The Company has tried to adjust its operations to serve customers in the face of these challenges, it is now left with the only remaining responsible option: progressively shutting down its Eastern Canadian operations until the illegal blockades end.”

CN says the protest actions have forced the company to stop and safely securing all trans-continental trains across its Canadian network.

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The company notes that over 400 trains have been cancelled during the last week and new protests that emerged at strategic locations on its mainline, has forced a progressive shutdown for the safety of its employees and the protestors.

JJ Ruest, president and chief executive officer at CN, says the situation is regrettable ” for its impact on the economy and on our railroaders as these protests are unrelated to CN’s activities, and beyond our control.”

CN’s action means Via Rail service will be discontinued across its Canadian network. However, commuter rail services, such as Metrolinx and Exo, can keep operating so long as they can do so safely.

The shutdown will ultimately impact businesses, as more than $250 Billion worth of goods are transported annually, for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resources to manufactured products and consumer goods.

Canadian National Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries – serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information about CN, visit the company’s website at www.cn.ca.

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