Canadian National Railway Co. is hoping efforts to improve customer service will help it crack a monopoly held by its rival, Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd., to ship most of the country’s potash.
Claude Mongeau, CN chief executive, said the railway showcased its new service improvements this winter when CP was unable to handle a sharp spike in potash exports. CP turned to its larger rival to help move some of its shipments from Canpotex, the country’s potash cartel, rather than leave one of its largest clients in the lurch.
Mongeau hopes that might help CN win some of the lucrative Canpotex business when its contract with CP comes up for renewal in June 2012.