The first new run since the mega deal was approved is scheduled to roll out of the Bensenville train yard Thursday. It came along with a safety appeal just filed in federal court that claims critical evidence was ignored in the government's approval of the merger.
The first new CPKC freight train left the newly expanded Bensenville rail yard Thursday headed to Mexico. Nearly 11,000 additional train cars carrying hazardous materials will be added during the next three years. "We know that there are three derailments per day in this country per day. It's not just about traffic or inconvenience of people. This is safety. This is lives that will be at risk if we don't have the necessary mitigations," said Rep. Delia Ramirez.
Statewide since 2020, there have been 58 train incidents involving hazardous materials, two with injuries. The only train hazmat-associated fatality in Illinois was in Cherry Valley in 2009.