CN writes last chapter of EJ&E acquisition

CHICAGO, Ill — It wasn’t an easy deal to close, but CN Rail says that it has finally completed its acquisition of the principal lines of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E).

The closing follows the Surface Transportation Board’s recent decision approving the transaction.

CN will now begin a "measured, step-by-step integration of the acquired EJ&E lines to ensure a safe, efficient combination of the two rail operations."

EJ&E operates over 198 main line miles of track encircling the City of Chicago from Waukegan, Ill., on the north, to Joliet, Ill., on the west, to Gary, Ind., on the southeast, and then to South Chicago.

The deal faced opposition from several community groups based along the rail line. The railway has spent much of the last year reaching side agreements with nearly a dozen of those interests, which are intended to mitigate the impacts of increased train traffic along the rail line.

In connection with its undertakings to the STB, CN will be "actively engaged in ensuring compliance with the various monitoring and reporting requirements," included in the STB’s decision approving the transaction, including the appointment of a CN community liaison officer for municipalities along the EJ&E that will be affected by the acquisition.