Durbin: Canadian National's Record of Delays, Increased Traffic and Blocked Crossings Make Case For Longer Monitoring Period
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the oversight period for the Canadian National (CN) Railroad should be extended until January 23, 2017. In 2008, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) placed CN under an unprecedented monitoring period to ensure the company fully complies with the promises it made when it acquired the EJ&E rail corridor. In that time, CN has been fined for failure to report blockages along the corridor. The current oversight period is set to expire this Jan. 23 2015
“Despite Canadian National’s claims that track upgrades would decrease the number and duration of blocked crossings in and around Chicago, there have been 5,267 instances of crossings being blocked by trains for ten minutes or more just in the first quarter of 2014. That’s the highest number since CN took ownership of the EJ&E corridor.” said Durbin. “This increase is of particular concern in a year when farmers in Illinois and across the Midwest are expecting a record harvest which will only exacerbate the already high volume of freight traffic for these communities.”
In August, Durbin convened meetings in Champaign and Chicago to discuss issues with CN’s Illinois operations. In Champaign and Chicago meetings with STB Chairman Dan Elliott, Amtrak and local officials, Durbin called for renewed efforts to end rail service delays and long durations for blocked crossings. The Village of Barrington and City of Aurora in particular have been vigilant in promoting increased rail safety, especially for trains carrying crude oil and ethanol. These large unit trains, and other freight trains, are blocking crossings and increasing delays throughout the EJ&E corridor.
“In light of the concerns expressed by these communities and the expectation of increased freight traffic this year, I believe it is important that the STB extend its oversight period to ensure CN is operating safely and honoring its commitments to protect the quality of life for families living along the EJ&E,” Durbin wrote.
Durbin also recently met with Carbondale officials to hear their concerns about Amtrak delays, caused largely by freight train interference along lines operated by CN. Canadian National has a long history of holding up Amtrak trains and holding back investments that could improve passenger and freight service in downstate Illinois. Persistent delays due largely to freight train interference have caused Amtrak trains on the Chicago-Champaign-Carbondale route to be delayed more than half the time.
Text of today’s letter is below:
September 11, 2014
Chairman Daniel R. Elliott III
Surface Transportation Board
395 E Street, SW
Washington DC 20423
Dear Chairman Elliott:
I am writing in support of the Village of Barrington and the City of Aurora’s recently filed petition calling for the extension of the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) oversight period for the Canadian National (CN) Railroad until January 23, 2017. This request comes as a follow up to your visit to Illinois where we discussed rail safety issues and problems with rail traffic among communities along the EJ&E corridor.
As you know, the STB placed CN under an unprecedented six year monitoring period after CN completed the controversial purchase of the EJ&E. The monitoring period was put in place to ensure CN fully complies with the promises it made when CN acquired the EJ&E.
Since the acquisition, several suburban communities in Illinois have contacted the STB with their concerns about increased rail traffic and blocked rail crossings along the EJ&E. The Village of Barrington and City of Aurora in particular have been vigilant in promoting increased rail safety, especially for trains carrying crude oil and ethanol. These large unit trains, and other freight trains, are blocking crossings and increasing delays throughout the EJ&E corridor. In fact, despite CN’s claims that track upgrades would decrease the number and duration of blocked crossings, there have been 5,267 instances of crossings being blocked by trains for ten minutes or more in the first quarter of 2014 – the highest number since CN took ownership of the rail lines.
The increase in the duration of blocked crossings by rail traffic is of particular concern in a year when farmers in Illinois and across the Midwest are expecting a record harvest. The most recent USDA crop report forecasts record soybean and corn crops along with very strong production in other commodities this year. The record harvest will only exacerbate the already high volume of freight traffic for these communities and could create more instances of crossings being blocked for long durations.
In light of the concerns expressed by these communities and the expectation of increased freight traffic this year, I believe it is important that the STB extend its oversight period to ensure CN is operating safely and honoring its commitments to protect the quality of life for families living along the EJ&E. An oversight extension would continue to encourage CN to adhere to its commitments made to the STB and would allow for a more thorough analysis of the impacts of rail traffic on affected communities after CN’s acquisition of the EJ&E.
Safe and efficient rail service is vital to the Illinois economy, and traffic problems caused by blocked rail crossings can be disastrous to the livelihood of impacted communities. The STB can help these communities by continuing to practice rigorous oversight of railroads who fail to meet their legal requirements or keep their commitments made before the STB. Extending its oversight period until January 2017 will help to ensure CN meets its requirements.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
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