CN Rail outlines plans for annual vegetation management program

CN Rail is about to embark on a vegetation management program
across Northwest British Columbia (image from CN)

Communities across northwest BC may soon see some work taking place along CN Rail right of ways, as the railway moves forward with their annual vegetation management program, the work required CN says to reduce the risk of trackside fires and impair the proper inspection of track infrastructure.

An update on the CN Rail website outlines the process CN will put in place for their 2023 program for all British Columbia lines, which include the heavily travelled corridor between Prince George and Prince Rupert.

For safe railway operations, the annual vegetation control program will be carried out on CN rail lines. 

Certified applicators will be applying herbicides on and around the railway tracks, mainly the graveled area known as the ballast, but also on other areas of the right of way where necessary for safety purposes. 

All product requirements for setbacks in the vicinity of dwellings, aquatic environments and municipal water supplies will be observed.

The program takes place this month through to October, with a detailed spray schedule to be posted to the CN Rail website as the program launches.

Prince Rupert, Port Edward and Kitimat are listed among the early applications with plans for the program to be in place here from May 1 to 3.

Terrace, Smithers, Houston and Burns Lake are all noted as part a June program, 

The CN Rail page (which you can access here) also includes a Frequently Asked Question section which offers up answers to many of the questions and concerns that the railway has responded to in past years.

More notes on CN Rail operations in the Northwest can be explored here.