In addition, it serves more than 20 vehicle distribution facilities through its Autoport subsidiary. The metals and minerals business unit comprises primarily base metals, steel and equipment, parts and construction materials. The company's exclusive rail access to major mines and smelters make it a transportation leader for copper, lead, zinc concentrates, refined metals and aluminum. The company's Canadian coal business consists primarily of metallurgical grades of bituminous coal for export to steel makers in Japan and other Asian markets. In the U.S., the company's coal business consists predominantly of thermal coal and moves from mines served by CNI in southern Illinois to major utilities in the U.S. Midwest and Southeast.
Acquisitions are an integral part of the company's growth strategy.
The transaction provided new routings and gateway choices, as well as more efficient handling of freight shipments around and through the busy Chicago rail hub. The transaction will be modestly accretive to earnings in the first year following approval, which is expected to occur by September 2001. In addition, Canadian National has marketing alliances with Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Railway. One of the key drivers of these expense controls is the company's use of scheduled train service. Typically, railroads hold up trains until enough cars accumulate.