Lots of missing facts in editorial

To the editor: I am writing in response to your editorial "Quit wailing, start seeing rail partnerships."

You omit many pertinent facts associated with the pending acquisition of the EJ&E line by CN.

Firstly, the "whiners" are hardly an isolated bunch of cranks. The Barrington Coalition Against CN Rail Congestion is comprised of nine affected townships. Our elected officials, including Reps. Melissa Bean and Don Manzullo and state Sens. William Peterson and Pamela Althoff, have expressed opposition, as have other affected communities. There must be some merit to the arguments of so many well-informed stakeholders.

Your editorial neglects to mention these important points:

• CN first tried to slip this through as a "minor transaction," without the need for mitigation or environmental impact studies. It is due to the diligent work of the Coalition that we won the right to a hearing and an EIS.

• CN had no intention to help the affected communities or made any concrete offers of assistance. Now that they are facing resistance, they have made vague statements that they are willing to work with communities.

• CN plans to dramatically increase the number of freight trains through our region by more than 20 per day to start.Once they open the Prince Rupert freight terminal and route all those additional trains through here, plus lease the use of the line to other freight carriers, we will see near constant train traffic.

• The effects on the health and safety of our community and children are not mentioned.What about all the increased air pollution from those locomotives and the idling cars? What about the toxic chemicals carried on those trains and the danger of derailment?What about CN's terrible safety record and their numerous violations?

• What about our children who have to cross the tracks to get to school?

Meanwhile, how does this benefit us?Are we supposed to sacrifice our community to help CN's bottom line?

There is a region-wide plan, called CREATE, to deal with freight congestion (www.createprogram.org.)

CN is bypassing this program and pursuing their own agenda, because CREATE takes into account affected communities and the environment. It's a public-private partnership, so it's not as easy as simply ramming through their own program and ignoring affected communities.

It's not too late for us to do something about this injustice, but it will be soon if we don't act.We can make a difference.

Arthur Holzknecht

Barrington