CN boss foresees greater north-south orientation of North American railroads

The increasing integration of the American and Canadian economies will require a greater north-south orientation of the North American rail industry to allow shippers to tap new business opportunities, says Paul M. Tellier, CN’s president and chief executive officer.

Tellier, in a speech to the North American Fertilizer Transportation Conference, said North American railroads of the future will also have a sharper customer focus, greater market share and healthier balance sheets.

“Further consolidation of railroads is almost inevitable to satisfy shippers’ demands for premium, single-line service. Under current conditions new rail mergers are unlikely within the next two to three years,” added Tellier, who acknowledged however that events could trigger a new round of rail consolidation more quickly.