More Freight Trains through Naperville

Canadian National Railway is trying to acquire the EJ&E railroad tracks for $300 million.

I hope that they're stopped. Why?

Because they would increase the number of freight trains going through Naperville and DuPage county horrifically. The old EJ&E tracks for the most part are at ground level. When a freight train with a 100 cars goes through, traffic stops.

The worst intersection is on Route 34, Ogden Avenue, which is a four lane highway at that point. Last summer I waited 20 minutes for a slow moving coal train to lumber by. Traffic was backed up for at least a mile.

Imagine, a freight train coming through every hour! And, is there enough money to build over passes or under passes? Probably not.

Also, the track runs right on the western border of Ashwood Creek and Ashwood Park. Would you want to pay $600,000 to have a freight train in your back yard? I wouldn't.

Many community groups have banded together to stop this acquisition. Let's hope that they're successful or we'll be facing more noise and more traffic tie-ups.