(The following story by Marni Pyke appeared on the Daily Herald website on February 9, 2009.)
CHICAGO — Up to six freight trains a day could move from CN tracks to the EJ&E railroad in early March.
Canadian National officials are still working out details of the transition with the smaller railroad, which it purchased Jan. 31, and promised more specifics soon.
The Canadian-based company can officially begin rerouting freight traffic March 4, but planners said it will take three years and $100 million in improvements before the transformation is complete.
“You have to have physical connections in place for these trains to move,” CN Senior Manager of Government Affairs Jim Kvedaras said. “It’s fair to acknowledge a handful can be rerouted.”
The initial changes are expected to affect the tracks between Mundelein and Gary, Ind. But over time, up to 24 more freights a day will travel on the “J,” which runs between Waukegan and Gary, in a semicircle.
At the same time Chicago and suburbs with CN lines will experience a drop in traffic.
The trade-off, not surprisingly, created a rift in the region between towns along the EJ&E opposing extra freights on the relatively quiet line and communities near CN tracks, which in some cases live with more than 100 trains a day.
CN and federal regulators believe shifting rail traffic to the “J” will ease a freight bottleneck in Chicago.
Despite intense lobbying by residents, mayors and congressmen in EJ&E territory, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board approved CN’s $300 million purchase of the smaller railroad Dec. 24.
Legal appeals by Barrington and other merger opponents seeking an emergency stay of the decision failed, although a court challenge is continuing. The municipalities argue the STB failed to address noise, safety and environmental problems increased freights will cause.
Meanwhile, CN has agreements with 10 towns in Illinois and Indiana to make improvements and adjustments to reduce the impact of the merger on the public. Kvedaras said the railroad is open to negotiate with additional towns. Over the next three years, CN will build 19 miles of double track, construct connections, upgrade several rail yards and add new sidings.