Congressman supports railway purchase

NORTH RIVERSIDE Canadian National Railway wants to buy the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company. If it happens, parts of Chicago and the suburbs could see less freight train traffic. Leaders in other suburbs are opposed to the deal because they say it will result in more freight train traffic in their communities.

On Thursday, a coalition of officials and residents from North Riverside, Crete, Buffalo Grove and other suburbs joined Congressman Dan Lipinski in favor of the proposal.

"For an entire northeastern Illinois area, there's going to be an increase, I believe, in the quality of life because more than 60 communities are going to see a decrease in the numbers of trains that are coming through," said Lipinski, (D) Chicago and southwest suburbs.