Post by title1parent on Nov 24, 2009 6:10:18 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1900872,2_1_AU24_EJE_S1-091124.article
Feds grant more oversight of Canadian National
November 24, 2009
By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com
Opponents of Canadian National Railway Company are celebrating a recent decision by the federal Surface Transportation Board that will see third-party oversight of CN's monthly and quarterly reports on its newly acquired suburban rail line.
The decision comes in response to an Oct. 14 letter sent by The Regional Answer to Canadian National, a coalition of communities opposed to CN's $300 million purchase of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern rail line last year. In that letter, opponents pointed out 50 instances of what they believe to be discrepancies in CN's monthly operations reports, and quarterly environmental reports. These reports are mandated by the STB.
In a response to TRAC leaders, Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner and Barrington Mayor Karen Darch, STB Director Matthew Wallen announced last week that a third-party contractor will review each of the reports CN submits, checking information on, among other things, train crossing delays, derailments, and the railroad's communication efforts with local communities. The EJ&E tracks taken over by Canadian National circle Chicago, from northern Indiana west to Joliet, then north through Plainfield, Naperville, Aurora and Elgin.
Canadian National will pay for the third-party oversight, according to STB officials. CN has said the full rollout of its plan to divert trains from Chicago to the suburban rail lines will take three years, and the STB will oversee the transaction for five years.
"We continue to hear concerns from citizens and emergency workers about CN's impact on public safety, which is why we will continue to lean on the STB to ensure that CN is held accountable and that our residents experience the least amount of disruption possible," Weisner said in a written statement.
But CN spokesman Patrick Waldron said this decision will not affect the railroad's reporting -- the company will continue to provide the monthly and quarterly reports, and any other information the STB asks for, Waldron said.
"We will provide the same level of cooperation and information to a third party as we would to the (STB)," he said.
Additionally, Waldron took issue with the notion that the railroad has not been providing complete information. The last quarterly report, he said, spanned 161 pages, and he said Canadian National has been "truthful and comprehensive in our reporting as required by the STB."
This decision comes two weeks after STB Chairman Daniel Elliott visited portions of the EJ&E line, in the company of both CN and members of TRAC. Weisner took Elliott to the Ogden Avenue crossing, one of the most heavily traveled rail crossings in the city, and one which the STB has determined must be grade-separated (by a bridge or underpass).
"Those meetings and site visits provide a unique perspective into each of your communities," Wallen wrote. "I hope we can continue such exchanges ... throughout the five-year oversight and monitoring period."
comment at beaconnewsonline.com
Feds grant more oversight of Canadian National
November 24, 2009
By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com
Opponents of Canadian National Railway Company are celebrating a recent decision by the federal Surface Transportation Board that will see third-party oversight of CN's monthly and quarterly reports on its newly acquired suburban rail line.
The decision comes in response to an Oct. 14 letter sent by The Regional Answer to Canadian National, a coalition of communities opposed to CN's $300 million purchase of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern rail line last year. In that letter, opponents pointed out 50 instances of what they believe to be discrepancies in CN's monthly operations reports, and quarterly environmental reports. These reports are mandated by the STB.
In a response to TRAC leaders, Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner and Barrington Mayor Karen Darch, STB Director Matthew Wallen announced last week that a third-party contractor will review each of the reports CN submits, checking information on, among other things, train crossing delays, derailments, and the railroad's communication efforts with local communities. The EJ&E tracks taken over by Canadian National circle Chicago, from northern Indiana west to Joliet, then north through Plainfield, Naperville, Aurora and Elgin.
Canadian National will pay for the third-party oversight, according to STB officials. CN has said the full rollout of its plan to divert trains from Chicago to the suburban rail lines will take three years, and the STB will oversee the transaction for five years.
"We continue to hear concerns from citizens and emergency workers about CN's impact on public safety, which is why we will continue to lean on the STB to ensure that CN is held accountable and that our residents experience the least amount of disruption possible," Weisner said in a written statement.
But CN spokesman Patrick Waldron said this decision will not affect the railroad's reporting -- the company will continue to provide the monthly and quarterly reports, and any other information the STB asks for, Waldron said.
"We will provide the same level of cooperation and information to a third party as we would to the (STB)," he said.
Additionally, Waldron took issue with the notion that the railroad has not been providing complete information. The last quarterly report, he said, spanned 161 pages, and he said Canadian National has been "truthful and comprehensive in our reporting as required by the STB."
This decision comes two weeks after STB Chairman Daniel Elliott visited portions of the EJ&E line, in the company of both CN and members of TRAC. Weisner took Elliott to the Ogden Avenue crossing, one of the most heavily traveled rail crossings in the city, and one which the STB has determined must be grade-separated (by a bridge or underpass).
"Those meetings and site visits provide a unique perspective into each of your communities," Wallen wrote. "I hope we can continue such exchanges ... throughout the five-year oversight and monitoring period."
comment at beaconnewsonline.com