CN dispatches first grain unit train from expanded TGM facility
The expanded rail infrastructure is designed to accommodate larger unit trains and improve grain movement from the elevator to domestic and export markets.
USA – Canadian National Railway Company (CN) has successfully dispatched its first grain unit train from Total Grain Marketing’s (TGM) newly expanded elevator in Lis, Illinois.
The shipment marks the operational debut of the largest infrastructure expansion project in TGM’s history, significantly upgrading agricultural logistics capacity across CN’s Southern Region network.
The multi-million-dollar upgrade at the Lis facility replaces a legacy 25-car track layout with a high-capacity 115-car loop track designed to accommodate full-length unit trains.
Alongside the rail infrastructure expansion, TGM constructed 3.1 million bushels of new grain storage capacity and added three high-speed truck dump pits.
The upgraded intake capabilities allow the facility to receive up to 85,000 bushels of grain per hour from regional producers.
The integrated enhancements drastically improve shipping velocity at the site, reducing unit train loading times to as little as eight hours.
TGM, established in 2006 as a joint venture between South Central FS, GROWMARK, Inc., and Wabash Valley Service Company, operates 25 grain elevators across Illinois and Indiana.
Company executives noted that the partnership with CN during planning and construction ensures smoother end-to-end supply chain movement for Midwest growers during peak harvest periods.
CN officials emphasized that the project reflects the Class I railroad’s ongoing strategy to partner with bulk agricultural shippers to expand rail-served infrastructure.
By enabling rapid, high-volume grain transit from origin elevators to key domestic and export markets, the expanded Lis facility improves operational efficiency for both the railroad and local agricultural producers while strengthening overall North American supply chain resilience.
The Lis expansion adds to TGM’s recent investment in grain-handling infrastructure. In 2025, the company also upgraded its Neoga, Illinois facility with additional storage, truck receiving capacity, and a rail loadout system capable of loading 105-car unit trains in 10 to 12 hours.
CN powers the economy by safely transporting more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year for its customers.
With its nearly 20,000-mile rail network and related transportation services, CN connects Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the US Midwest and the US Gulf Coast, contributing to sustainable trade and the prosperity of the communities where it has operated since 1919.
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