CN awarded Innovator of the Year by Wal-Mart Canada

TORONTO, March 15 /CNW Telbec/ - Wal-Mart Canada has awarded CN the prestigious Innovator of the Year honour recognizing the railroad's ongoing efforts to deliver cutting edge supply chain solutions for Wal-Mart Canada's evolving logistics network. The award commends CN's drive and ability to support customers' needs by leveraging its rail franchise and combining non-rail transportation solutions.

"At CN we value our customers' business and share their sense of urgency to continually improve the service we offer," said Paul Waite, vice president of CN Intermodal. "Our approach allows us to act quickly, turning challenges into ideas and then executing innovative solutions. We are pleased Wal-Mart has recognized that approach with this award."

CN's ability to deliver "truck like" service via rail has allowed both CN and Wal-Mart to continue to benefit from both the cost savings and positive environmental impact. Wal-Mart Canada also highlighted CN's new "EcoTherm product" as an example of successful innovation. EcoTherm provides a greener, cleaner transportation solution with 48 per cent fuel savings on Wal-Mart's loads. With EcoTherm, goods are protected from freezing inside a temperature controlled, insulated 40-foot container that does not require a heating unit in transit.

"We are very pleased that Wal-Mart Canada has named CN the Innovator of the Year," said Jean-Jacques Ruest, CN's Executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "This is a great example of CN's increased focus on working with and listening to our customers' needs."

The award was presented at Wal-Mart Canada's annual Carrier Awards Banquet in Mississauga.

CN - Canadian National Railway Company and its operating railway subsidiaries - spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information on CN, visit the company's website at www.cn.ca.

For further information: Media: Jim Feeny, Director, Public & Government Affairs, [phone]; Investors: Robert Noorigian, Vice-president, Investor Relations, [phone]