GlobeNewswire Inc | Dec 10, 2020 11:45AM EST

December 10, 2020

MONTREAL, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) is pleased to announce the launch of its new inland distribution terminal in New Richmond, WI. The new multipurpose facility will include an automotive compound for finished vehicles, and an intermodal terminal to serve intermodal shippers and receivers in the metropolitan area of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, MN.

Opening March 1st 2021, the New Richmond, WI, terminal will provide direct CN Intermodal service to the Twin Cities market. This new service will enable customers to better serve the large consumer market of Minneapolis and Saint Paul and provides them with an alternative shipping option to this growing marketplace. The New Richmond terminal will link shippers to CNs far-reaching three-coast network and serve a range of import and export industries including automotive and finished consumer goods, grain, soybean, as well as forest products.

CNs development of the New Richmond facility will provide vital access to containers for agricultural exporters to meet customer demand in Europe and Asia. Competitive container shipping is vital for American agriculture to serve the growing global consumer market for high value, specialized grain, soy, and food ingredients. Intermodal rail service also offers the additional environmental and transportation cost reduction benefit of helping reduce long distance highway truck traffic that now is extensively hauling inbound international container freight from Chicago to the Twin Cities. We are hopeful this new facility will further solidify the Twin Cities & western Wisconsin as a major regional transportation logistics hub.- Bruce Abbe, Strategic Advisor for Trade & Transportation, Specialty Soya & Grains Alliance

CNs new intermodal terminal in New Richmond will be a very important asset for our states exporters, particularly farmers, hardwoods producers, and manufacturers based in northern and western Wisconsin. Our Freight Advisory Committee identified intermodal transportation as their top priority and I want to thank everyone who worked together toward this goal.- Craig Thompson, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary-designee

We are proud to open a new store front to serve Minneapolis and Saint Paul to support our customers by offering more capacity and further reach. The New Richmond terminal is strategically located at the center of the CN network, allowing direct access to our reliable, three coast rail network for importing vehicles and consumer products from around the globe.Customers now have another direct link to their mid-west markets as well as a new and efficient option for shipping export commodities to global markets.- Keith Reardon, Senior Vice-President, Consumer Product Supply Chain at CN

Western Wisconsin welcomes this significant local investment that provides a global reach for our members and communities. Our critical location, tied into major consumer markets via key infrastructure like CNs rail network, is essential to growing our economy and leading us into a post-COVID recovery.- Steve Jahn, Executive Director, Momentum West

CNs Presence in Wisconsin:

-- Capital investments: approximately $970 million in the last five years; $100 million in 2020 -- Employees: approximately 1,413 -- Railroad route miles operated: 1,428 -- Community partnerships: $165,000 in 2019 -- Local spending: $240 million in 2019 -- Cash taxes paid: $21 million in 2019

About CNCN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canadas Eastern and Western coasts with the Southern tip of the U.S. through a 19,500-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

Contacts:

Media Investment CommunityJonathan Abecassis Paul ButcherSenior Manager Vice-PresidentMedia Relations Investor Relations(514) 399-7956 (514) 399-0052media@cn.ca investor.relations@cn.ca