CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A potential blockbuster railroad merger could impact traffic in the suburbs.
The Kansas City Southern Railroad is the subject of a bidding war between two Canadian rail giants with footprints in the Chicago area. The winner will be able to boast a railroad network that would extend from Canada through the United States and into southern Mexico.
The Canadian National Railroad swooped in at the last minute and topped Canadian Pacific's offer for the KCS, and that has suburban officials worried.
That's because train traffic in some towns increased after federal regulators gave their blessing to CN's acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern railroad a decade ago. Leaders in towns along the line told the Daily Herald they're worried that another merger would mean more traffic tie ups at grade crossings and that they are asking the surface transportation board for more details.
Canadian National said the suburban routing of the former EJ&E makes it easier to move freight trains around yards and rail bottlenecks in Chicago.
