Canadian rail plan a sound one for all
Metra seems to think the Canadian National Railway would offer difficulties in their operation of the STAR line by running 25-30 trains per day on a line that would support commuter trains.
The rest of the commuter lines in Chicago area already operate very well on lines that run far more trains that this. The secret is that the rush-hours have freight-train moratoriums during these critical hours. I would see this as no different.
Restricting the railroad from improving freight service through Chicago will only grow truck traffic in the metro area, making for more congested interstates and tollways. One train running over the EJ&E tracks would take 400 trucks off Chicago area highways.
The cities protesting seem very willing to put up new stoplights at every intersection. These lights are a minute or so long. A train running at 40 mph will clear a crossing in less than five minutes. I would argue the traffic congestion in the suburbs today are far longer because of the traffic lights than the trains.
Barrington, train or no train, is a mess. Route 59 north and south through the suburb, is a nightmare and removing the train would do little to change that. What number of freight trains actually run through there each day, five or six? The commuter trains cause the problem in Barrington, not the freights that run during mid-day or at night.
The CNR would perform maintenance and improvements to a line that is already in decent shape, but with added sidings, etc., to create more capacity to run trains of all kinds and to keep congestion at a minimum.
These infrastructure improvements will both benefit the commuter line and limit the traffic issues to each and every local community.
This acquisition will have a great and immediate, impact on freight commerce.
Like it or not, there will be many more people in the US and in the Chicago area in the coming years. To support this there will have to be great commercial transportation improvements for both commuter and freight systems.
Rail lines have returned to a very prominent role in filling both of these functions. There is not enough land or money to build all the new highways needed to manage this increasing demand and what rail line right-of-ways that exist must be maintained and developed.
The CNR is looking at an option that should have been done many years ago. I believe it is critical to the Chicago area and its future in transportation that this project is completed and quickly.
Gary Kolbe
Geneva