Miscellaneous
Illinois
Amtrak
Amtrak: Sleeping Car Service to be Restored between Boston and Chicago
CHICAGO — The Amtrak Lake Shore Limited will offer sleeping car service between Chicago and Boston “to better suit our passengers needs,” starting with the eastbound departure of Trains 48/448 on April 2 from Chicago and the westbound departure of Trains 49/449 from New York and Boston on April 4, Amtrak said. The eastbound Train 48/448 will depart Chicago an hour earlier than the existing schedule, also effective on April 4. The restoration of sleeping car service provides a higher level of comfort than can be provided in coach for passengers riding to and from Boston (South Station) and the
Amtrak
Chicago Hub and Other Services Affected by Severe Weather
CHICAGO — Severe weather from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest has caused Amtrak rail infrastructure and railcar issues, affecting deployment cycles for equipment and train crews, the railroad said. Several trains to and from Chicago are being canceled in order to prepare to properly re-deploy equipment and crews. Illinois Service Lincoln Service Train 305 will be combined with Lincoln Service Train 307 to originate in Chicago on December 23. Illini Train 393, the afternoon departure from Chicago to Carbondale on December 23, and Saluki Train 390, the morning departure from Carbondale to Chicago on December 24, are both cancelled, with
Canadian National
CN, Chicago Heights, Ill., Reach Mitigation Agreement for EJ&E transaction
CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Ill. — CN announced an agreement with the City of Chicago Heights, Ill., located 26 miles south of downtown Chicago and six miles from the Indiana border, that addresses municipal concerns about CN’s proposed acquisition of the principal lines of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E). Under the agreement, CN will assist in the creation and maintenance of quiet zones and take various steps to improve operations, safety, fencing and emergency preparedness and promote economic development in Chicago Heights. The agreement is contingent upon regulatory approval of CN’s proposed acquisition of the EJ&E. The transaction is
Canadian National
CN Urges STB Approval of EJ&E Acquisition, Cites Overall Benefit to Chicago Region
WASHINGTON — Canadian National is urging the Surface Transportation Board to promptly approve its proposed acquisition of the principal lines of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Co., pointing to planned mitigation efforts and the significant economic and environmental benefits to the overall Chicago region. CN’s said its supporting facts and conclusions are contained in comments filed regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the transaction issued on July 25, 2008, by the Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) of the STB. “Our filing underscores three important facts,” said CN President and Chief Executive Officer E. Hunter Harrison. “First, none of
Amtrak
Service Alert: Chicago Hub Service — Heavy Rains Result in Track Closures
The remnants of Hurricane Ike have been dumping heavy rains on the states of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Missouri. The resulting temporary closure of various railroad routes is leading to the cancellation of some Amtrak service, with other Amtrak trains operating subject to significant delays. Amtrak is working with the owners of the routes to restore normal service as soon as possible. Passengers with travel plans in these states are urged to call Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL to confirm the operation of their trains and the status of alternate transportation. Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle, Chicago-Springfield-St. Louis Trains 303, 304, 305,
BNSF
BNSF Reopens Chicagoland Rail-Served Terminal
FORT WORTH — BNSF Railway Company today announced the reopening of a rail-served building materials transload facility under the management of Partners Warehouse, LLC, at Eola, Ill. Operating as Partners Dimensional Services, the facility has received a complete track and maintenance overhaul to better handle dimensional (oversized) materials such as lumber, steel, and other building products. Security has been upgraded and lighting added for continuous operations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “This is the only yard of its type close to the growing housing market in the western Chicago suburbs and with immediate access to major North/South
Amtrak
Track Upgrade Project Causes Temporary Amtrak Schedule Changes on Chicago-St. Louis Corridor
CHICAGO – Amtrak schedules on the Chicago-St. Louis corridor, served by Lincoln Service trains and the Texas Eagle, will undergo changes during the next several weeks, while Union Pacific Railroad makes track improvements at Springfield, Ill., through the end of June. During the first phase of the work, Train 301, the morning Lincoln Service departure from Chicago to St. Louis; and Train 306, the evening Lincoln Service departure from St. Louis to Chicago; are both canceled. Passengers are being directed to the four other round-trips on the corridor as alternate transportation from May 23 through May 31, including Train 300,
Amtrak
Amtrak Celebrates National Train Day with Ceremony Honoring Pullman Porters in Chicago
CHICAGO – Amtrak, in partnership with the Chicago-based A. Philip Randolph Museum, will host a ceremony during National Train Day this Saturday (May 10, 2008) to honor the contributions of the legendary Pullman Porters to the nation’s railroads. Amtrak employees will gather to give heartfelt thanks in person to six porters who proudly served as far back as the mid-1940s. Honored are Eugene Bowser of Chicago, Linus J. Scott of Gary, Ind., William Turner of Cincinnati and three men from Omaha, Neb.: Terry Edwards, Johnny Newsome and Raymond Willis (biographical information attached). “The celebration is an opportunity for Amtrak’s current
Amtrak
Chicago Derailment Under Investigation
CHICAGO — The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a Go Team to investigate yesterday’s collision between an Amtrak passenger train and a Norfolk Southern freight train on NS tracks south of Chicago. NTSB Rail Investigator Ted Turpin will serve as Investigator-in-Charge and lead the 7-member team. Vice Chairman Robert Sumwalt will accompany the team and serve as spokesman for the on-scene investigation. At the time of the crash, there were 187 passengers and six employees on board the Amtrak train. Most passengers and crew members were unhurt and were later transported to Amtrak Chicago Union Station and on to