CN, KCS place orders for more than 100 locomotives

Today, Canadian National Railway Co. announced it will acquire 50 4,300-horsepower SD70M-2 locomotives from Electro-Motive Diesel Inc. (EMD).

To be delivered in 2007’s second half, the locomotives will help CN handle intermodal traffic to and from a Port of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, terminal, scheduled to open next year. CN will move containers from Prince Rupert to Toronto, Montreal, Chicago and Memphis, Tenn.

CN is acquiring the locomotives under an option it obtained in April 2005, when the Class I ordered 25 SD70M-2s from EMD.

Meanwhile, Kansas City Southern announced it will acquire 30 ES44AC locomotives from GE - Transportation and 30 SD70ACe locomotives from EMD. The GE locomotives will be delivered by early 2007 and EMD locomotives, by third-quarter 2007.

The acquisition is the first phase of a five-year plan to acquire more efficient, environmentally friendly locomotives. KCS plans to replace every three older locomotives with two newer ones.