New Lenox Rail Sense

September 28, 2008 / By Richard Wronski / Chicago Tribune reporter 

Opponents of CN’s plan to re-route freight trains are dealt a setback

Opponents of Canadian National Railway’s plan to reroute more freight trains through dozens of Chicago suburbs were dealt a blow Saturday when the U.S. House failed to approve legislation meant to tighten rules on railroad mergers.

Local members of Congress had hoped the measure would help thwart CN’s plans to acquire the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway, but they could not muster enough support.

The legislation gained a simple majority, 243-175, but a two-thirds majority was needed for approval.

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September 28, 2008 / By KIM SMITH / Joliet Herald News

NEW LENOX — Officials have always been very vocal against the acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway by the Canadian National Railway.

Recently, they put their feelings in writing when they unanimously passed a second resolution against the plan.

“CN once again has tried bullying their way through (the system),” said Mayor Tim Baldermann. “We are opposed due to a large number of reasons.”

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August 26, 2008 / By Richard Wronski and Gary Gibula / Chicago Chicago Tribune

Rail company will pay for various repairs in exchange for support

As a new round of public meetings began Monday on the controversial acquisition of a suburban railroad, Canadian National Railway Co. reported an agreement with one of the towns facing a potentially sharp increase in freight traffic.

CN has agreed to pay for track improvements and other updates along the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway through Joliet-a move intended to lessen the impact of additional freight trains at two busy rail crossings.

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September 25, 2008 / By Marni Pyke / Daily Herald

Legislation aimed at making federal regulators pay closer attention to community concerns when ruling on railroad mergers such as the controversial plan by Canadian National Railway to buy the EJ&E railroad cleared the U.S. House transportation committee Wednesday.

The next step is a vote in the House but it’s uncertain whether the policy will be prioritized given the pending election and financial bailout maelstrom in Congress.

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September 25, 2008 / BY Gina Kenny Correspondent / Neighborhood Star

Frankfort village officials are not putting all of their eggs in one basket. The village will spend money to prevent a hurried ruling on Canadian National’s acquisition of the Elgin Joliet & Eastern railroad while also submitting a list of mitigation requests in case the purchase is approved.

The Frankfort Village Board approved, at a specially called meeting Tuesday, a list of 14 mitigation requests if the federal Surface Transportation Board approves the acquisition of the EJ&E railroad.

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September 24, 2008 / Aurora Beacon News

A congressional committee this morning gave approval to rules that would require community impact to be considered by the feds analyzing proposed railroad mergers.

The House Transportation Committee, meeting Wednesday morning in Washington, D.C., moved the resolution introduced by Rep. Jim Oberstar of Minnesota to the full House of Representatives for discussion. If passed, the bill calls on the Surface Transportation Board to weigh positive and negative impact a rail merger could have on affected communities.

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September 24, 2008 / By KIM SMITH / Geneva Sun

NEW LENOX - Officials have always been very vocal against the acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway by the Canadian National Railway.

On Monday night, they put their feelings in writing when they unanimously passed a second resolution against the plan.

“CN once again has tried bullying their way through (the system),” said Mayor Tim Baldermann. “We are opposed due to a large number of reasons.”

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September 22, 2008 / By Joseph Hillenmeyer / Frankfort Station

With the Tuesday, Sept. 30, deadline quickly approaching, Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland and trustees received a final briefing by the Louis Berger Group and the Winston & Strawn law firm on what the village and its residents can do to win the final battle in the war with Canadian National (CN).

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September 21, 2008 / By CINDY WOJDYLA CAIN / Joliet Herald News

BOLINGBROOK — The “vicious” fight that has erupted over Canadian National’s plans to buy the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway is not unique to this area, Leslie Blakey said Thursday.

Blakey, executive director of the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors, was speaking at the second annual Global Logistics Summit of Will County held at the Bolingbrook Golf Club.

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September 19, 2008 / By Richard Wronski / Chicago Tribune reporter

Asks federal court to order board to rule by Dec. 1

The Canadian National Railway asked a federal court in Washington on Thursday to force regulators to decide by Dec. 1 whether the railroad can buy a suburban rail line to bypass Chicago rail congestion.

The move followed the U.S. Surface Transportation Board’s refusal last week to shorten its process so the railroad could close its $300 million deal for the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway before a Dec. 31 deadline. CN’s plan to reroute freight traffic has stirred controversy in dozens of suburbs along the 198-mile rail line from Waukegan to Joliet to Gary, Ind. Many towns are alarmed at the prospect of blocked crossings because of a tripling or quadrupling of freight trains.

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