WASHINGTON — Canadian National and Canadian Pacific have reached an interim agreement that settles their Chicago interchange dispute while the railroads await a formal Surface Transportation Board decision on the matter.CP informed the board of the interim agreement in a filing last week. Under the terms of the deal, CN will deliver CP-bound interchange traffic to CP’s Bensenville Yard, while CP will deliver CN-bound traffic to CN via the Belt Railway of Chicago’s Clearing Yard.
CP and CN participated in oral arguments before the board on Aug. 6 after board-ordered mediation failed to settle the dispute.
CN and CP last year began discussing moving their interchange away from Spaulding in Bartlett, Ill. Talks failed, however, and CN aimed to cancel the current interchange agreement on May 11, then move the interchange from Spaulding, not far from CP’s Bensenville Yard, to CN’s Kirk Yard in Gary, Ind.
CN said interchanging at Spaulding caused congestion on its increasingly busy single-track main line.
CP objected, and the board ordered the railroads to maintain the Spaulding interchange while the dispute headed to mediation.
CN will maintain its Spaulding trackage in service pending the board’s final decision.
“CN may classify some tracks previously used for interchange as inactive for inspection or maintenance purposes, but CN will not remove any tracks pending final Board decision, and CN assumes full responsibility for restoring tracks to active service within 30 calendar days if interchange reverts to Spaulding pursuant to the interim agreement or order of the Board,” the filing says.
The railroads exchange an average of about 80 cars per day in Chicago.
Knowing the Canadian Pacific (retired locomotive engineer out of Bensenville), the crews who deliver cars to the Belt Rwy. for interchange with the CN will more than likely pick up cars at the Belt destined for Bensenville rather than return with light power.
Seems odd that the two PSR pioneers have agreed to an interim arrangement that seems to assure each interchange trip will have a light engine return move.
For 80 cars a day – Tempest in a Teapot.
Too funny. You (CN) have to deliver my pizzas to my front door (Bensenville) as long as we (CP) deliver your pizzas to the parking lot. (Clearing).
I said when this started that BRC’s Clearing yard would seem to be an ideal interchange point, and it looks like CN and CP at least partially agree.
Why even consider removing any of the tracks at Spaulding…wouldn’t they be useful for assisting in relieving some of that congestion you’re talking about CN?
Why not double track the congested area since it’s so profitable?