CN Rail set to commence with annual Vegetation Management Program

CN Rail is about to launch its annual attack on vegetation along the
CN Northern line from Prince George to Prince Rupert

With summer just over the horizon now, Canadian National Railway is about to launch its annual Vegetation Management program, with workers set to get to work on a three month program of clearing the railway's right of way between Prince Rupert and Prince George.

This years program starts on June 1st and will continue through until mid September, with a certified applicator applying herbicides on and around the railways tracks, mainly in areas of the gravelled areas and ballast segments of the rail line.

The areas of most concern to the railway when it comes to
vegetation control along the Northern BC line

In an advisory to the public, CN notes that all product requirements for setbacks in the vicinity of dwellings, aquatic environments and municipal water supplies will be met.

The need to address the vegetation is one of safety, with the railway noting how if left un-controlled the vegetation can contribute to track side fires and impair proper inspection of railway track infrastructure.

In the Northwest, the timeline for delivery of the program will see the work carried out between June 7th and 27th.

More on the program and the list of dates for work across Northern BC can be explored here.

Local environmental groups have found much to fault with CN's previous approaches to their spraying program and have raised a number of concerns about how they may plan to do their Pest management program in the future.

A look back at some of the fall out from the program in years past can be found below:

June 2018 -- Concerns of Environmental groups for CN Vegetation plan gain increased media attention across the Northwest
November 2017 -- Province continues investigation into CN Rail spraying program of fall
October 2017 -- CN Rail facing question following NW fall vegetation control program

For more items of note related to CN Rail operations in the Northwest see our archive page here.

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