CN targets terminal optimization with Fast Tracking initiative

By Bridget Dean, Senior Associate Editor 

CN is working toward a more efficient rail network through a comprehensive terminal review process called Fast Tracking.

The process initially was launched at two terminals in 2025. The Class I has continued to optimize facilities throughout 2026 and plans to review 28 terminals throughout its Eastern, Western and Southern regions in the near future.

Starting with terminals in Montreal, Quebec, and Memphis, Tennessee, CN teams developed a structured review plan that can be applied consistently across multiple types and sizes of terminals, CN spokesperson Ashley Michnowski said in an email. The network-wide approach helps ensure the company is operating as one railroad with a shared focus on safety, efficiency and reliable service, she added.

The initiative has been rolling out across CN's network for approximately one year, with reviews and improvements implemented in phases.

A cross-functional review process

Employees from across CN's operations, mechanical, engineering, sales and marketing, finance and human resources departments are involved in Fast Tracking reviews. At each terminal, the review team evaluates how well the facility is operating and what its traffic volume and operational needs are. Then, team members identify opportunities to improve how work is planned and executed.

"We essentially start with a clean slate, assessing where we are today, where we want to be and what changes will help us get there," Michnowski said.

The collaborative approach enables CN to consider the full scope of its operations, she said. By taking a closer look at each terminal's traffic volume and workload, the Class I has identified ways to adjust schedules, improve productivity and make better use of existing capacity.

For example, a review at one terminal revealed an opportunity to adjust a seven-day operating schedule to better fit with customer demand, which was mostly distributed across just three days. The change better reflects the terminal's actual activity levels and customer needs, Michnowski said.

Measuring progress

Modifications aren't implemented at terminals without plans to measure their success. Following each Fast Tracking review, CN conducts an initial 45-day implementation period for the operational adjustments. Then, CN teams monitor the terminal for a 90-day period to ensure it's operating smoothly and to assess the results of changes.

Progress is measured through a structured scorecard that measures operational improvements, monitors commitments and ensures accountability across terminals, Michnowski said.

"These scorecards are reviewed throughout the process, with an overall assessment at year-end to evaluate our progress and identify opportunities for further improvement," she added.

Fast Tracking is already making a measurable impact on operating metrics and has improved labor, locomotive and fuel productivity, according to an article on CN's website.