CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY COMPANY

corporation created by the Canadian government in 1918 to operate a number of nationalized railroads (including the old Grand Trunk lines, the Intercolonial Railway, the National Transcontinental Railway, and the Canadian Northern Railway) as one of Canada's two transcontinental railroad systems. Headquarters are in Montreal. In its early years Canadian National engaged in a fierce competitive struggle with the privately owned Canadian Pacific Ltd. This ended with the Canadian NationalCanadian Pacific Act in 1933, which directed the railways to cooperate in seeking economies and eliminating duplication of services. In 1978 Canadian National's passenger services were taken over by VIA Rail Canada, a crown corporation set up to operate all Canadian passenger services except commuter services. In 1995 the government privatized the company. Canadian National's transcontinental line runs across Canada from several east-coast cities to Vancouver and Prince Rupert, B.C. The company also owns a chain of hotels, the CN Tower in Toronto, trucking companies, ferry lines, and telecommunications services.