December 15, 2025 – Montreal, Canada - Winter weather is an unavoidable part of operating one of North America’s largest rail networks. For Canadian National Railway (CN), keeping station entrances and pedestrian walkways clear of snow and ice is essential—not only for passenger safety, but also for maintaining uninterrupted operations throughout the day and night.
To provide continuous protection during winter storms, Canadian National Railway installed HeatTrak Snow Melting Mat Systems at train stations across its rail network.
“Snow doesn’t just fall during business hours,” said Noel Vallee, Materials Coordinator for Canadian National Railway. “Our stations need to remain accessible 24 hours a day, regardless of the weather. Relying solely on maintenance crews to shovel and salt every time snow accumulated simply wasn’t practical. We were looking for a solution that could work continuously, even when staff weren’t immediately available.”
Unlike traditional snow removal methods that require repeated manual attention, HeatTrak’s electrically heated mats automatically melt falling snow and ice on contact, helping keep walkways clear throughout a storm without the need for constant monitoring.
“Transportation facilities face a unique challenge because passenger traffic doesn’t stop when the weather turns bad,” said Robert Epstein, Vice President of Commercial Sales at HeatTrak. “Our snow melting mats provide facility managers with peace of mind by creating a heated walking surface that works automatically whenever snow begins to fall. Instead of waiting for crews to respond, the mats are already doing the job.”
HeatTrak is the original inventor of portable snow melting mats and now has more than 1,000,000 mats in use throughout North America. Available in 120V, 208V, and 240V configurations, the systems plug into standard electrical service and melt snow and ice at rates of up to two inches per hour. HeatTrak products are used by transportation agencies, hospitals, universities, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities to improve pedestrian safety while reducing slip-and-fall incidents and the labor associated with winter maintenance.
“For us, it comes down to reliability,” Vallee said. “Knowing our bridges and walkways remain clear even during overnight snowstorms gives us confidence that passengers and employees will have a safer path when they arrive. It’s a smarter, more dependable approach to winter maintenance.”
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About HeatTrak
HeatTrak is the developer and primary manufacturer of outdoor heated matting products. Founded in 2004, the company’s products are an efficient, convenient, and economical way to eliminate snow and ice accumulation around the workplace. More than 1,000,000 mats are in use throughout North America at facilities that include Fortune 500 companies, hospitals, and universities. Read more about HeatTrak and the company’s complete range of solutions at https://heattrak.com/
Contact: questions@heattrak.com
Website: https://heattrak.com/
