Canadian National Railway Co <CNR.TO> extended its reach further into Alberta's oil sands region on Monday with a deal to buy and rebuild the struggling Athabasca Northern Railway.

Rail investments key to economic growth in oil sands and other natural resource regions of northern Alberta.

The Alberta government is considering using rail links to help carry Canadian crude to Asian markets as an alternative to pipelines.

The Alberta government on April 29 announced a master plan aimed at increasing passenger rail service in the province.

A year ago, former Alaska Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell and other state leaders were gushing with enthusiasm over the Alaska-Alberta Railway Development Corp.'s plan to build a railroad from northern ...