v3.22.4
Debt (Total LTD) (Details)
$ in Millions, $ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
CAD ($)
Dec. 31, 2022
USD ($)
Nov. 15, 2022
Aug. 05, 2022
Dec. 31, 2021
CAD ($)
Dec. 31, 2021
USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Commercial paper $ 805 $ 594     $ 140 $ 111
Finance leases 10       10  
Equipment loans and other 779       770  
Total debt, gross 16,408       13,439  
Net unamortized discount and debt issuance costs (979)       (954)  
Total debt 15,429       12,485  
Less: Current portion of long-term debt 1,057       508  
Total long-term debt 14,372       11,977  
Notes and debentures [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Total debt, gross $ 14,814       12,519  
Canadian National series, 2.25% 10-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 2.25% 2.25% 2.25%      
Term of issuance 10 years          
Maturity Nov. 15, 2022          
Total debt, gross $ 0 $ 0     316 0
Canadian National series, 7.63% 30-year debentures [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 7.63% 7.63%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity May 15, 2023          
Total debt, gross $ 203 $ 150     190 150
Canadian National series, 2.95% 10-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 2.95% 2.95%        
Term of issuance 10 years          
Maturity Nov. 21, 2024          
Total debt, gross $ 474 $ 350     442 350
Canadian National series, 2.80% 10-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 2.80% 2.80%        
Term of issuance 10 years          
Maturity Sep. 22, 2025          
Total debt, gross $ 350       350  
Canadian National series, 2.75% 10-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 2.75% 2.75%        
Term of issuance 10 years          
Maturity Mar. 01, 2026          
Total debt, gross $ 678 $ 500     632 500
Canadian National series, 6.90% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 6.90% 6.90%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Jul. 15, 2028          
Total debt, gross $ 644 $ 475     600 475
Canadian National series, 3.20% 10-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 3.20% 3.20%        
Term of issuance 10 years          
Maturity Jul. 31, 2028          
Total debt, gross $ 350       350  
Canadian National series, 3.00% 10-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 3.00% 3.00%        
Term of issuance 10 years          
Maturity Feb. 08, 2029          
Total debt, gross $ 350       350  
Canadian National series, 7.38% 30-year debentures [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 7.38% 7.38%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Oct. 15, 2031          
Total debt, gross $ 271 $ 200     253 200
Canadian National series, 3.85% 10-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 3.85% 3.85%   3.85%    
Term of issuance 10 years          
Maturity Aug. 05, 2032          
Total debt, gross $ 1,084 $ 800     0 800
Canadian National series, 6.25% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 6.25% 6.25%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Aug. 01, 2034          
Total debt, gross $ 678 $ 500     632 500
Canadian National series, 6.20% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 6.20% 6.20%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Jun. 01, 2036          
Total debt, gross $ 610 $ 450     569 450
Canadian National series, 6.71% Puttable Reset Securities PURS [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 6.71% 6.71%        
Maturity Jul. 15, 2036          
Total debt, gross $ 339 $ 250     316 250
Canadian National series, 6.38% 30-year debentures [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 6.38% 6.38%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Nov. 15, 2037          
Total debt, gross $ 407 $ 300     379 300
Canadian National series, 3.50% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 3.50% 3.50%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Nov. 15, 2042          
Total debt, gross $ 339 $ 250     316 250
Canadian National series, 4.50% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 4.50% 4.50%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Nov. 07, 2043          
Total debt, gross $ 339 $ 250     316 250
Canadian National series, 3.95% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 3.95% 3.95%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Sep. 22, 2045          
Total debt, gross $ 400       400  
Canadian National series, 3.20% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 3.20% 3.20%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Aug. 02, 2046          
Total debt, gross $ 881 $ 650     821 650
Canadian National series, 3.60% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 3.60% 3.60%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Aug. 01, 2047          
Total debt, gross $ 500       500  
Canadian National series, 3.65% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 3.65% 3.65%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Feb. 03, 2048          
Total debt, gross $ 813 $ 600     758 600
Canadian National series, 3.60% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 3.60% 3.60%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Jul. 31, 2048          
Total debt, gross $ 450       450  
Canadian National series, 4.45% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 4.45% 4.45%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Jan. 20, 2049          
Total debt, gross $ 881 $ 650     821 650
Canadian National series, 3.60% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 3.60% 3.60%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Feb. 08, 2049          
Total debt, gross $ 450       450  
Canadian National series, 3.05% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 3.05% 3.05%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Feb. 08, 2050          
Total debt, gross $ 450       450  
Canadian National series, 2.45% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 2.45% 2.45%        
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity May 01, 2050          
Total debt, gross $ 813 $ 600     758 600
Canadian National series, 4.40% 30-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 4.40% 4.40%   4.40%    
Term of issuance 30 years          
Maturity Aug. 05, 2052          
Total debt, gross $ 949 $ 700     0 700
Canadian National series, 4.00% 50-year notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 4.00% 4.00%        
Term of issuance 50 years          
Maturity Sep. 22, 2065          
Total debt, gross $ 100       100  
llinois Central series, 7.70% 100-year debentures [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Interest rate 7.70% 7.70%        
Term of issuance 100 years          
Maturity Sep. 15, 2096          
Total debt, gross $ 169 $ 125     158 $ 125
BC Rail series, non-interest bearing 90-year subordinated notes [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Term of issuance 90 years          
Maturity Jul. 14, 2094          
Total debt, gross $ 842       842  
Net unamortized discount and debt issuance costs (827)       (828)  
LTD other disclosures            
Discounted debt $ 15       $ 14  
Imputed interest rate 5.75% 5.75%     5.75% 5.75%
Equipment Loan [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Equipment loans and other $ 734       $ 723  
Other Equipment Loan [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Equipment loans and other $ 45       $ 47  
LTD other disclosures            
Weighted average interest rate 2.12% 2.12%     2.12% 2.12%