(The following appeared on the Post-Tribune website on February 2, 2009.)
GARY, Ind. — Canadian National now officially owns the former EJ&E Railway lines that have stirred up controversy over increased train traffic in Northwest Indiana.
The sale of the line became official Saturday, according to a Canadian National release. CN had sought the sale to help divert traffic from its current lines.
However, the new route is expected to increase the number of trains going through each day in Schererville, Dyer, Gary and Griffith as train traffic moves from an inner-city line going through Chicago to one on the outskirts.
The cities had fought the sale, but reached agreements with CN to help cope with the increased traffic. The company has promised $60 million to help pay for improvements.
Griffith is expected to see one of the highest increases, going from about eight trains a day to about 30. The line cuts through Broad Street, the main north-south road in the town, and officials have said they fear people will stay away from Griffith because they won’t be able to get through.
Gary is also expected to see a rise in traffic but has not reached a deal with CN.
Some cities and towns, including Munster, will benefit from the sale, though, because trains will be detoured from their rail lines. Munster is expected to go from 23 trains a day to three.
The sale had been in doubt until the Surface Transportation Board approved the sale in late December and a court found in January against several cities suing to stop the sale.