CN and Amtrak Reach Agreements to Strengthen Passenger Rail Service and Safety

CN and Amtrak have reached agreements that will strengthen their partnership and enhance the safety and reliability of passenger and freight rail service on CN’s U.S. rail network. The agreements, signed after a decade-long proceeding before the Surface Transportation Board (STB), establish a new framework for CN and Amtrak to work together, including a revised performance payment system aligned with the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) on-time performance standard.

The new operating agreement covers Amtrak services such as the City of New Orleans, Illini/Saluki, and Wolverine. It includes regular reviews of Amtrak’s schedules and processes to address operational issues and resolve disputes. Additionally, the parties will collaborate on a process for Amtrak to equip its trains operating on CN’s network with Onboard Shunt Enhancers (OSEs). OSEs are a technology designed to improve the detection of trains as they approach rail grade crossings, ensuring that warning systems, including gates, flashing lights, and bells, activate when necessary. This technology not only enhances safety but also provides greater operating flexibility, supporting improved on-time performance for passenger rail service while facilitating the efficient movement of both freight and passenger traffic.

Patrick Whitehead, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of CN, expressed satisfaction with the agreements, stating, "CN is pleased to have reached agreements that allow us to move forward with a clear framework for safely and efficiently sharing our network. Together with the deployment of OSE technology, these agreements will support safer grade crossings and reliable passenger and freight service."

Byl Herrmann, Interim President of Amtrak, added, "These agreements give Amtrak and CN a strong foundation to move forward together and deliver efficient, reliable passenger rail service. Together, we are improving performance for our passengers while investing in technology that enhances safety in the communities we serve. With steady encouragement from the STB and grant approval from FRA, we are able to bring this train into the station."

The installation of OSEs is supported through FRA funding and builds on more than a decade of research and testing led by CN, Amtrak, and the FRA. Both parties expressed gratitude to the FRA for its leadership and investment in OSE technology and to the STB for its guidance and encouragement, which were instrumental in helping the parties amicably resolve their long-running operating agreement dispute.

CN, with its nearly 20,000-mile rail network and related transportation services, connects Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. Midwest and the U.S. Gulf Coast, contributing to sustainable trade and the prosperity of the communities in which it operates. Amtrak, on the other hand, offers unforgettable experiences to more than 500 destinations across 46 states and parts of Canada, modernizing, enhancing, and expanding its trains, stations, and infrastructure to meet the rising demand for train travel.