Canadian National Railway says it has recalled laid-off employees to handle the start of what is expected to be bumper grain crops.

Chief operating officer Mike Cory didn't provide details of how many workers are impacted by the change or where they're located.

Cory says CN has repaired grain cars and deployed them close to customers so they are ready for use after harvest.

Over the last few weeks, he says the railway delivered record weekly grain shipments by working with partners and lengthening the size of trains.