Suburban Chicago communities appeal federal approval of Canadian Pacific, Kansas City Southern rail merger

. The deal would create the first rail line linking Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, with far-reaching implications for local communities, Amtrak passenger rail and shippers looking to move goods through the country and across borders.

led to evacuations and fears of air and water contamination when toxic chemicals were released and burned. Union Pacific already filed an appeal of the decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on May 3. Railroad executives said in a statement that the merger “is likely to reduce competition and negatively impact shippers and stakeholders. In approving the merger, the Surface Transportation Board acknowledged these concerns but did not adopt solutions to remedy the harms.”

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