MONTREAL, Que. — CN has put in orders for 75 high-horsepower locomotives from two builders. The railway will take delivery of 50 ES44DC locomotives from GE Transportation Rail, a unit of General Electric Company, and 25 SD70M-2 locomotives from Electro-Motive Diesel, starting in the fourth quarter of 2005, with completion by mid-2006.

The ES44DCs are rated at 4,400 horsepower, and the SD70M-2s at 4,300 horsepower. CN has also negotiated options, effective through the end of 2008, to acquire a further 25 ES44DC and an additional 50 SD70M-2 locomotives.

“Our orders for 75 new locomotives will upgrade CN’s motive-power fleet at a time of continued growth in all of our businesses across the network, including import/export of both bulk shipments and intermodal traffic. These new units are the most reliable, most fuel-efficient ever, and comply fully with the latest regulatory requirements for reduced locomotive exhaust emissions. They will strengthen our ability to deliver improved service,” said E. Hunter Harrison, president and chief executive officer at CN.

The options to acquire a further 75 locomotives, if exercised, would permit CN to accommodate potential traffic in excess of current expectations, while the firm orders for 75 new locomotives will allow CN to replace 100 older 3,000-3,600 horsepower road locomotives.