The Canadian National Electric Railways (CNER) was a subsidiary of the Canadian National Railways created to operate a few electric lines.
These railways never became a corporate part of the CNER:[1] With the creation of the CNER, CNR president Henry Thornton was enthusiastic to develop Canadian National's own network of electric railways.
This followed setbacks that Adam Beck had in promoting an Ontario Hydro radial network with its subsidiary the Hydro-Electric Railways.
[2] There was also another plan to extend the Guelph line from its "temporary" terminal at Keele Street and St. Clair Avenue to downtown via the nearby CNR line.
[3] The CNER's Toronto Suburban district never turned a profit,[2] and its abandonment in 1931 was the result of huge deficits from that line.