The total miles traveled by freight cars, a key measure of how much goods are moved, went up by 1% to 60 billion miles. Revenue also rose by $111 million, reaching $3.18 billion — a 4% increase from the same period last year. The company’s profits improved as well, with operating income climbing by $46 million to $1.2 billion, reflecting better efficiency and cost control.

Most freight types saw growth, with the only exceptions being intermodal shipments and automotive freight, which stayed about the same or fell slightly. The company’s efficiency improved slightly, with its operating ratio dropping to 63.4%, meaning it managed costs better relative to revenue.

Shareholders benefited from higher earnings, with earnings per share rising 8% to $1.34. The company also generated more free cash, increasing from $382 million to $452 million, giving it more money to reinvest in the business.

Operationally, some metrics showed the impact of winter weather. The average distance freight cars traveled each day slowed from 205 miles to 189 miles, and the time freight cars spent waiting at terminals increased from 7.1 hours to 7.8 hours. Train speeds also dipped slightly from 18.7 mph to 17.7 mph. The safety record remained steady, with injury rates unchanged, but accidents increased from 1.73 to 2.09 per million miles.

Looking ahead, CN expects to grow its earnings per share by about 10% to 15% for the full year. The company plans to invest around $2.46 billion in infrastructure and service improvements. The outlook for North American industrial activity remains flat for the year, but CN stays focused on managing costs and maintaining steady growth despite global economic uncertainties.