Bartlett joins Barrington, Will County in fight against CN

Bartlett officials plan to join Barrington and Will County in continuing the fight against Canadian National Railway.

Bartlett is the latest to announce it will file a petition of stay with the Surface Transportation Board regarding the recent approval of CN's purchase of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad.

Bartlett Village Board members voted Tuesday to file the petition, but attorneys have not completed the actual filing, Assistant to the Village Manager Steve Bosco said.

A coalition of communities opposed to the sale, called The Regional Answer to Canadian National, or TRAC, are to meet in Bartlett Friday morning to discuss possible action.

But Bartlett is acting independently in filing its petition of stay, just as Barrington and Will County were, Bosco said.

Barrington's petition, filed Monday, asks for a ruling by the STB by next Monday, Jan. 12. The STB's approval of the EJ&E purchase is scheduled to take effect Jan. 23.

TRAC members oppose the rail deal because it would bring more freight trains through their communities.