(The following appeared on the Suburban Chicago News website on February 29.)
CHICAGO — Canadian National has proposed the EJ&E purchase as a way to reduce freight congestion in the Chicago region, which also would reduce fuel consumption and emissions from trains. The project is designed to make better use of tracks that have been in existence for more than a century and helped foster our region’s development.
As a Feb. 13 Wall Street Journal story recently pointed out, “Railroads have found friends among environmentalists who see moving freight by train rather than truck as a way to reduce fuel burning and emissions.” As federal transportation data show, freight trains are three times more efficient than trucks in terms of fuel consumption, and one single freight train can displace 280 semi-trucks on our crowded roads.
All of the concerns raised by Sen. Richard Durbin and Rep. Melissa Bean in their Feb. 28 letter to Mr. Harrison have been communicated to the US. Surface Transportation Board, the regulatory authority in this matter. The STB’s process allows for all issues to be weighed and addressed in an orderly manner. CN fully supports the process and is in the process of providing voluminous data as required by the STB.
We firmly believe that issues with Amtrak, Metra and mitigation can be worked out in a reasonable fashion consistent with sound national rail policy.
Above and beyond the STB process and its requirements, CN representatives have been meeting with local officials along the EJ&E to gather input and share ideas.
CN has been in close contact with the offices of Sen. Durbin and Rep. Bean, and CN officials are willing to hold further meetings at any time with Sen. Durbin and Rep. Bean as we work toward a successful resolution that benefits the Chicago region and our nation as a whole.