CN reaches accord with another EJ&E community
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief Canadian National and West Chicago, Ill., have come to terms on CN’s operations over the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway, which CN acquired in January. West Chicago will accept CN’s commitment to $1.8 billion in improvements on the line to reduce the impact of the anticipated frequency increase on the EJ&E.
CN will pay for a pedestrian underpass, road improvements, residential soundproofing, quiet zones, and other items, while West Chicago agrees to drop its opposition to the merger. West Chicago’s City Council voted 7-6 to approve the deal, joining 10 other municipalities in Illinois and Indiana that have come to terms with the Class I railroad.
CN legally can begin increasing train frequencies over the EJ&E as of today, but the railroad has no specific plans to do so right away. “We’re not ready for a rerouting announcement,” CN spokesman Patrick Waldron said.
