EJ&E/CN Options

     The EJ&E has only been in place over a hundred years or more.  But, it seems that the CN is planning to send 20 plus trains a day over the EJ&E to avoid congestion in the yards and switching districts of Chicago, just what the EJ&E was chartered to do over 100 years ago.  This means thyat these 20 trains will spend one day rather than three days in the Chicago area by using the EJ&E.

     Instead taxpayers' dolloars are being used to conduct 7 hearings to gather information that is rather useless just because these trains will pass through Barrington and DuPage County.  If the CN doesn't buy the EJ&E, it still has three options for moving these trains over the EJ&E.  No.1: It can turn the trains over on a joint hault basis where the EJ&E would share in the through freight charges.  No.2: The CN and the EJ&E could enter into a trackage rights arrangement where CN trains, locomotives and crews could operate on EJ&E tracks, a very common arrangement.  No.3: The CN could tuirn its trains and motive power over to the EJ&E who would operate them with their crews.

     In any case the use of the EJ&E would result in much lower air pollution than having those 20 trians spend 3 days idling their way through congested yards and sitting inumberable hours wait8ing for open track.

     Mr. Schillerstrom and Barrington should get with reality.  Railroads are here to stay and will become an even more important part of the landscape than they are today.  Highways just can't do the job.  Suggest that Barrington take a close look at Rt 59 through Barrington as an example of a road that needs to turn "green".  Barrington's gaited commuinities have some serious adjustments to make in the future.  Don't wast the taxpayers' money on useless hearings.

Gordon S. Brand