Challenges filed to stop CN’s short line buy

Challenges filed to stop CNÆs short line buy A Chicago suburb has filed an appeal of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board’s decision approving Canadian National’s takeover of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern (EJ&E) Railway.
   The Village of Barrington filed the appeal with the U.S. Court Of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and also filed a stay of petition with the STB in an attempt to prevent the transaction from closing, during the court’s review of the appeal.
   The STB approved CN’s purchase of the EJ&E's principal lines on Dec. 24. CN said the purchase would allow it to speed rail traffic trains by skirting congestion in downtown Chicago.
   Barrington officials charge the STB acted improperly in approving the takeover. The stay petition notes the STB did not take into account problems identified by opponents to the transaction during the environmental impact statement process.
   “We have filed direct legal challenges to the STB and through the federal courts in an attempt to delay further action by Canadian National until this acquisition is examined more thoroughly. We believe that the decision is wrong and is short sighted in examining serious concerns raised by thousand of residents, transportation experts and elected leaders,” said Karen Darch, Barrington Village president.
   Barrington officials said the STB failed to analyze all reasonable alternatives to the transaction and the reasonably foreseeable effects of additional track construction on the lines to be acquired and the increased volume of other railroad current and future freight traffic on certain railroad lines in Chicago. ' Chris Dupin