Letter: Rail opposition based on false information

The Lake County Board recently passed a resolution opposing the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern railroad combination. The board based its action on the false premise that the result of the combination would be dramatically increased freight trains delaying Metra commuter trains, motorists and emergency vehicles in Lake County.

CP is not proposing any additional freight trains on rail lines in Lake County as part of the combination with KCS. None. That includes on the Metra Milwaukee District North in Lake County, where freight trains and passenger trains have successfully operated together for decades. Similar false statements have been made about the combination bringing much longer freight trains and new "convoys" of hazardous materials moving through Lake County.

CP provides excellent service to passenger trains. According to Metra's own data, for years, CP has successfully dispatched Metra trains on the Milwaukee District North producing a 98.5% on-time performance, when excluding Metra-responsible delays, and a 93.0% record when all types of delays are included.

From the beginning, the CP team has worked to provide accurate information regarding this historic proposal joining two railroads that will provide economic, environmental and public benefits to the Chicago area and beyond.

Under CP's proposal, still under review by federal regulators, eight freight trains would be added to the shared freight and commuter rail corridor between Bensenville and Elgin located mostly in northern DuPage County and part of Cook County, about 10 miles or more from Lake County. Most of that new train traffic will be intermodal and merchandise traffic. It is not an oil train route today nor is it expected to be one be post-transaction.

We continue to talk to Metra and community officials about the combination and changes it will bring - and the changes it will not bring - to the suburbs.

Andy Cummings, Community Relations

Canadian Pacific