CN to hold media briefing at Quebec derailment site at 3.30 p.m. EDT today

MONTREAL, June 5, 2006 — CN will conduct a media briefing this afternoon at 3.30 p.m. Eastern time at the railway's command post near the site of company's freight derailment yesterday afternoon.

CN will update the media about the steps it is taking to collect and vacuum gasoline and diesel products that leaked in the Riviere du Loup after the train derailed on the railway's Joliette Subdivision near Charette, Que., in the Mauricie Region, about 140 kilometres northeast of Montreal. CN is also vacuuming petroleum products that leaked on-land in the vicinity of the derailment.

To reach the command post:

1. Take autoroute 40 East, direction Quebec City
2. Take EXIT 180 toward 153 North, direction ST-Barnabé
3. Autoroute 153 becomes Autoroute 350 West
4. Turn right on Petit Bellechasse Street between Charette and Saint-Paulin

CN is vacuuming petroleum product that leaked on-land in the vicinity of the derailment, and is drilling soil samples to assess the degree of contamination in the area. CN is working closely with environmental officials from the Quebec and federal governments.

An estimated 200,000 litres of petroleum products spilled from four tanks cars after the accident, of which an estimated 100,000 litres of products entered the Riviere du Loup.

No one was injured in the accident in which 14 cars of a 141-car freight train derailed at about 12.35 p.m. June 4. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

CN immediately advised Environment Canada and the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks following the derailment.

The freight train had originated in Toronto and was destined for Arvida, Que.