CN Opens Reconstructed Memphis Yard

Canadian National Railway said that it has completed a $100 million reconstruction project on its Memphis, Tenn., rail classification yard.

The project turn the yard into a “state-of-the-art, effectively designed major terminal,” Claude Mongeau, CN executive vice president said in a statement.

The project rebuilt the entire yard section by section, CN said, and installed brand new equipment such as the latest switching technology.

When it opened the new yard Thursday, CN announced that it had named it the Harrison Yard in honor of E. Hunter Harrison, CN president since 2003. Harrison will retire at the end of 2009, CN said.

CN’s Memphis yard is important to its entire North American network, the railroad said, serving as a major freight destination and as a gateway to the Gulf region.