New Lenox Rail Sense

December 25, 2008 / By BOB OKON / Joliet Herald News

Federal regulators Wednesday approved Canadian National Railway’s plan to the dismay — but not surprise — of many local officials. Canadian National can now move forward with the $300 million acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway line.

But while local officials are disappointed that CN was not required to pay more to ease the impact on road congestion, the railroad company said it will review the decision in light of additional costs imposed by regulators.

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December 24, 2008 / By Marni Pyke and Nadia Malik / Daily Herald Staff

The sale of a train line that will affect rail traffic levels throughout the Chicago region got the final green light from federal regulators Wednesday - but suburban opponents vow to keep fighting it.

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board unanimously approved the acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway line - which runs in an arc through around Chicago, from Waukegan to Gary, Ind. - by the Canadian National Railway Co.

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December 11, 2008 / Mark Wilson / Canadian Sailings

Hunter Harrison, president and CEO of Canadian National, said the likely future for North American railways is that two über railways will replace Union Pacific, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, CN, Canadian Pacific, CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway.

Mr. Harrison is proposing an end game to industry consolidation at a time when CN is having trouble winning regulatory approval to take over a 150-mile shortline skirting Chicago.

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November 26, 2008 / By Richard Wronski | Chicago Tribune 

President-elect has opposed the plan to reroute more trains through Chicago suburbs

Opponents of the Canadian National Railway’s proposed purchase of a rail line through Chicago’s suburbs hope that the election of Barack Obama will bolster their arguments against the deal, but CN’s leader is scoffing at the notion.

Chairman E. Hunter Harrison has said he doesn’t think Obama’s opposition will be a factor in the U.S. Surface Transportation Board’s decision on CN’s planned $300 million purchase of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway.

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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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September 9, 2008 / By Richard Wronski / Chicago Tribune reporter

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the area’s top planning body, made the draft letter public Tuesday

If the Canadian National Railway wants to prove its commitment to solving traffic problems caused by its plan to acquire a suburban railroad, it should set aside $150 million to help pay for overpasses and other improvements.

That is the message contained in a draft of a letter to federal regulators from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the region’s top planning body. The letter was made public Tuesday.

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September 9, 2008 / Published in the SouthtownStar

WASHINGTON (AP) - A measure gaining bipartisan support in Congress could threaten Canadian National Railway’s plan to buy the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway line in Chicago’s suburbs, the company’s chairman and CEO said Tuesday.

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August 15, 2008 / By Richard Wronski / Chicago Tribune reporter

Railroad vows not to reroute freight trains until completion of environmental study

In a new effort to force the hand of federal regulators, the Canadian National Railway demanded early approval of its plan to buy the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway, but promised not to reroute freight trains until a key environmental impact report is completed.

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July 31, 2009 / By Chad Brooks / Daily HeraldRepresentatives of Canadian National will not be answering questions about its proposed purchase of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Co. before members of the Illinois Congressional delegation Tuesday. In a letter to U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean this week, CN President and CEO E. Hunter Harrison said the CN declined the invitation to appear at Tuesday’s public hearing in Chicago because of the group’s unwillingness to consider the benefits of the deal.

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July 30, 2008 By ANDRE SALLES / Aurora Beacon News

If Canadian National Railway Company ends up buying the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern rail line, some expensive work at some of the busier crossings will likely be required.

But those upgrades may cost hundreds of millions of dollars and take years to complete, according to local communities along the line.  And no one is quite sure who will pay for the work.

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