Press Releases September 22, 2026 03:15 PM

CN Ships First Grain Unit Train from Expanded Total Grain Marketing Facility in Illinois

CN Ships First Unit Grain Train from Expanded Facility Supporting Supply Chain Efficiency in Illinois

By Sofia Navarro
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Canadian National Railway Company (CN) has shipped its first unit train from Total Grain Marketing's (TGM) newly expanded grain elevator facility in Lis, Illinois. The expansion includes significant enhancements in storage and shipping capacity, aimed at improving operational efficiencies in grain transportation along CN's Southern region, benefiting the grain industry and supply chain partners.

CN Ships First Grain Unit Train from Expanded Total Grain Marketing Facility in Illinois
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Key Points

  • CN and Total Grain Marketing completed a major expansion of the Lis, Illinois grain facility, increasing storage to 3.1 million bushels and enabling faster train loading times.
  • The project includes a 115-car loop track replacing a 25-car footprint, allowing unit trains to load in as little as eight hours, which enhances supply chain efficiency.
  • This development strengthens CN's Southern region transportation network, supporting agricultural and industrial sectors by improving grain movement capacity.

MONTREAL, Sept. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) and Total Grain Marketing (TGM) announced that on September 16th, 2026, CN shipped the first unit train from TGM’s recently expanded grain elevator at Lis, Illinois. The project includes a new 115-car loop track that replaces the existing 25-car footprint, along with expanded receiving, storage, and shipping capacity.

The expansion at Lis includes the construction of 3.1 million bushels of grain storage capacity along with three truck dump pits that allow the facility to receive up to 85,000 bushels of grain per hour. New shipping capacity will allow unit trains to be loaded in as little as eight hours.

“Lis represents the biggest project in the history of TGM. We appreciate the partnership and engagement with CN every step of the way through this project.”

 - Ken Meinhart, Grain Division Manager, Total Grain Marketing

“The operational efficiencies that this project will generate for TGM, its customers, and CN will make a real difference to the end-to-end grain supply chain in CN’s Southern Region.”

 - Nicole James, Vice-President Transportation Southern Region, CN

“We are proud to be working so closely with TGM in making this project a reality. We look forward to working with our long-term partner to create value for both TGM and its customers.”

 - Sandra Ellis, Vice-President, Bulk, Industrial and Business Development, CN

CN continues to work closely with customers and supply chain partners to bring new projects online, supporting long-term economic growth while strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of North American supply chains.

About CN
CN powers the economy by safely transporting more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year for its customers. With its nearly 20,000-mile rail network and related transportation services, CN connects Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. Midwest and the U.S. Gulf Coast, contributing to sustainable trade and the prosperity of the communities in which it operates since 1919.

About TGM:
Total Grain Marketing (TGM) is a full-service grain company dedicated to providing comprehensive grain marketing solutions to meet the needs of both producers and consumers. Established in 2006 as a joint venture between South Central FS, GROWMARK, Inc., and Wabash Valley Service Company, TGM operates 25 elevators across Illinois and Indiana.

Contacts: 

MediaInvestment CommunityAshley MichnowskiJamie LockwoodSenior Manager        Vice-PresidentMedia RelationsInvestor Relations and Special Projects(438) 596-4329(514) 399-0052
[email protected]
[email protected]


Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9196ccb0-5d2e-426e-b9cd-84899a0b6b2c
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5a3fa852-fb5b-45d0-9f65-58bed8d152a3
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b61c1c7c-9444-4697-83e9-5b53abeeb5ee


Risks

  • Operational risks related to integrating the expanded facility smoothly into existing logistics could affect initial performance and customer satisfaction.
  • Market demand fluctuations in the agriculture sector could influence the volume of grain shipments and utilization of the new capacity.
  • Potential regulatory or environmental compliance challenges related to facility expansion and increased shipping activity may pose risks to sustained operations.

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