The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Dec. 7, edition that Canadian National Railway says it is acquiring Iowa Northern Railway, pending regulatory review. In a press release Thursday evening, CN says it has signed and closed an agreement to acquire the railway, which serves upper Midwest agricultural and industrial markets. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe reports that the Iowa railway operates approximately 275 track miles in Iowa connecting to CN's U.S. rail network. CN says the transaction "represents a meaningful opportunity to support the growth of local business by creating single-line service to North American destinations." Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. CN says a decision from the U.S. Surface Transportation Board is expected in the new year. CN is one of North America's six biggest railroads with more than 18,000 miles of track across Canada and the United States. CN chief executive officer Tracy Robinson said in a statement that the acquisition will enable CN "to play an even more important role in this critical supply chain and densifying our southern network." Iowa Northern had about 115 employees in 2022.