CN’s U.S. vegetation management program is governed by the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Section 213.321, which requires that “vegetation on railroad property which is on or immediately adjacent to roadbed shall be controlled.”

The US spray program occurs from February to November.

Program Approach

CN retains professional contractors who:

• Comply with all U.S. federal and state laws and regulations.
• Apply herbicides approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Conduct work with consideration for environmental protection and industry best practices.

Inquiries

All inquiries, weed notices and spray requests should be sent to the CN Public Inquiry Line or call 1-888-888-5909.

CN’s Canadian vegetation management program is governed by the Rules Respecting Track Safety, adopted under the Railway Safety Act (RSA). Part II of the Rules requires that “vegetation on railway property, which is on or immediately adjacent to roadbed must be controlled.”

The Canadian spray program occurs from April to October.

Program Approach

CN retains professional contractors who:

• Comply with all Canadian federal and provincial laws and regulations.
• Apply herbicides approved by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).
• Conduct work with consideration for environmental protection and industry best practices.

2025 Herbicide Spray Schedule in Canada

For information on when the ballast in your community will be sprayed please refer to our Municipal Subdivision Index.

  Municipal Subdivision Index (XLS) 

Train Schedule     Truck Schedule

Inquiries and Permits

• All inquiries, weed notices, and spray requests must go through the CN Public Inquiry Line or call 1-888-888-5909 and mention if this is operating or non operating lands.
• Municipalities requiring access to CN lands must complete a Weed control Access Permit before conducting inspections or vegetation work.

Resources

• Canada-wide

    Transport Canada's Rules Respecting Track Safety 

    Transport Canada Railway Safety Act 

    Health Canada & Pesticides 

  Herbicide Application Contractor Information
  
  

  Davey Tree Expert Co. of Canada,
  Limited 611 Tradewind Drive, Suite 500
  Ancaster, ON L9G 4V5

  Phone - 905-304-7359 extension: 2046

  Pesticides may be used in Canada
  
  

  Pesticide Product Brand Name	Name of Active Ingredient(s)	PCP Registration Number
  Arsenal Powerline	Imazapyr	30203
  Aspect	Picloram, 2,4-D	31641
  Clearview	Aminopyralid, Metsulfuron-Methyl	29752
  Credit Xtreme	Glyphosate	29888
  Detail	Salflufenacil	32773
  Esplanade	Indaziflam	31333
  Garlon RTU	Triclopyr	29334
  Garlon XRT	Triclopyr	28945
  Gateway (Adjuvant)	Paraffinic Oil	31470
  Hasten (Adjuvant)	Methyl and ethyl oleate	31760
  Milestone NXT	Aminopyralid	28517
  Navius Flex	Aminocylclopyrachlor, Metsulfuron-Methyl	31382
  Overdrive	Diflufenzopyr, Dicamba	30065
  Telar XP	Chlorsulfuron	30036
  Torpedo EZ	Flumioxazin, Pyroxasulfone	33872
  Vision Max	Glyphosate	27736

  
  Herbicide Labels
  
  

    Arsenal Powerline  

    Aspect 
  
    Clearview

    Credit Xtreme 

    Detail 

    Esplanade SC 

    Garlon RTU
  
    Garlon XRT
  
    Gateway
  
    Hasten

    Milestone 

    Navius Flex 

    Overdrive 

    Telar 

    Torpedo 

    VisionMax 

• British Columbia

  Development of Pest Management Plans

  Consistent with CN’s legal obligations as a federally-regulated railway to ensure that vegetation which is on or immediately adjacent to the railway roadbed is controlled, CN must ensure that the track is free of vegetation that could create fire hazards, affect track integrity, obstruct visibility of operations and inspections, or impact grade crossing sightline requirements. Accordingly, and consistent with CN’s robust legislative framework which includes the Railway Safety Act, the Pest Control Products Act, and others, vegetation management activities are performed to ensure safe and efficient railway operations across CN’s transcontinental railway system.

  The purpose for managing vegetation on lands owned or operated by CN is to maintain the safe functioning of train operations and to protect the public, employees and the environment from potential hazards that are associated with vegetation around railway operations. Consequently, CN has elected to prepare Pest Management Plans respecting vegetation control activities within certain property owned or operated by CN within the province of British Columbia, on all track ballasts, rights-of-way, station grounds, rail yards, bridges, road and pedestrian crossings, and around shops, buildings and communications and signals infrastructure using the principles of integrated pest management.

  CN's Pesticide Use Notice confirmation numbers are 107-0131-24-29 and 107-0132-24-29. If you'd like a copy of the Pest Management Plan, please email CN Public Inquiry Line. The Pest Management Plan is only available in English.

• Ontario

    Ontario Regulation 63/09  

    2025 Ontario Public Notice  
  

• Alberta

    2025 Alberta authorizations and notices  

• Quebec

    Quebec Public Notice