CN Network Update - Wildfires in Lytton, BC

Submitted by admin on Mon, 07/12/2021 - 18:34

Following is an update from CN on network operations in Western Canada in relation to the wildfires in the Lytton, BC area.

Transport Canada has issued a Ministerial Order which will take effect at 12:01 am PDT Sunday, July 11, 2021 and includes measures for railways to increase their capacity to detect, monitor and suppress fires. You can read the order by clicking the button below.

We continue to work with the local authorities and First Nations. As CN continues to work on clearing debris in the area, we are also working to detour limited traffic where possible in order to decongest the network.

CN has successfully rerouted some of our customer’s traffic via the CP lines as well as limited traffic via the Lillooet line which runs from Vancouver to Prince George via Squamish, Lillooet, Exeter, and Quesnel. As a reminder we are currently only moving on the Lillooet line traffic that moved previously on that line.

A reminder that at this time an embargo has been issued preventing traffic to be billed Westbound to Vancouver from northern BC and east of Kamloops and from the BNSF, UP and Vancouver area towards the East. The BNSF and UP traffic into Vancouver area is permitted.

Intermodal traffic is not impacted by this embargo, it is strictly focused on carload traffic. 

The following information applies to Intermodal:

Domestic Intermodal 
We will continue to honour in-gate movement at all terminals across the network during the localized operating pause. This includes originating and destined traffic to Vancouver. 

We will continue to closely monitor terminal fluidity, and equipment capacity over the next 48 hours. 

Originating and destined domestic traffic to and from Vancouver, expect 72 to 96 hour delays on train departures, and travel time.

International Intermodal
We continue to load import traffic at the Ports located in BC South to the extent the current car supply can accommodate.

Acceptance of Export loads and empties destined to Ports in Vancouver continue to be restricted, we will review the in gate acceptance of traffic on a case by case basis and will continue to keep you updated should the situation change.