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CN responds to Sen. Durbin criticism
Once again, “Little Dickie” Durbin, the absolute embodiment, of everything that’s wrong with this country, shoots his big mouth off, concerning issues, of which, he knows nothing about. THERE’S a BIG surprise!!! The voters of Illinois, would be doing this country a BIG favor, by throwing this pompous, pious, pontificating piece of feces, out of office, come November 4th.
Sadly, given the collective IQ of most of the Illinois electorate, I’d imagine that pigs will fly, before anything like that ever happens.
To add to Mr. Schurman’s comment, if one such as Mr. Callahan thinks everyone else is stupid, in the end, it may actually be the other way around.
Politicians don’t bother themselves with things they don’t think their constituents care about. It doesn’t take a great deal of intellect to comprehend a blocked road Xing. CN may be between the devil and the deep blue sea, with this issue - at least in the short run, but how would they know the level of public ire for their behaviour unless someone told them?
To Robert M. Callahan: please remember to be respectful in your comments. We may disagree with people or find them personally unpleasant, but attacking someone with the kind of language you have used here lowers the tone of News Wire and inhibits the free exchange of thoughts and ideas. Even though you may oppose Mr. Durbin’s words and actions, he is still a person who should be treated with the same kind of respect you would wish to have.
Robert - I am part of the Illinois Electorate and definitely not a fan of the “Machine.”
I won’t be voting for Sen. Durbin. He has always come across as a spiteful, angry, and vindictive politician; willing to pander to select voter blocks to pad his power base.
Regardless, while there may be some issues between CN and local municipalities, the discussions continue and things will eventually be worked out.
With Trains becoming the latest extension of the Rush Limbaugh show, I am sorry I renewed my subscription.
Ummmm, Mr. Oltmann, I believe I specfically referred to MOST of the Illinois electorate, not ALL of the Illinois electorate. After all, it takes a majority to elect someone like Durbin, does it not? To be sure, there are pockets of sanity that exist in the state, just not in Springfield or Chicago.
Also, can you really be so naive as to think that CN is so unaware of the concerns of the municipalities along its rights of way, that it takes the likes of Durbin to “wake them up”, so to speak? You are aware, aren’t you, that, as a condition of the merger between CN and the EJ&E, CN must give regular reports to the STB (I believe it’s the STB. I stand to be corrected on that point) detailing their plans and actions, to mitigate any issues or concerns, that communities along the ex EJ&E, might have? I highly doubt that they’re doing that in a vacuum, don’t you? Then again, you live in Georgia (a great state to live in, BTW), so you are to be excused for not having the keenest insight, into what’s going on over in Illinois. I see it every day. It ain’t pretty.
Finally, while Mitch Daniels (now President of Purdue University) was Governor of Indiana, he was interviewed by Roe Conn of Chicago radio station WLS AM, on Conn’s
afternoon program. Conn asked him about what he thought about living next door to Illinois. Without missing a beat, the Governor answered: “Living next door to Illinois, is like living next door to the Simpsons”. Laugh? I thought my pants would never dry.
Respectful, Mr. Schurman? You mean respectful in the same manner that Durbin is respectful to those of us, who totally disagree with and totally reject his extreme, Big Government, liberal point of view ?
Mr. Green has described “Little Dickie” perfectly. What is one to make of an electorate that elects a complete and utter moron like Durbin, to office? Are we to applaud their
wisdom and intelligence, hail their choice as being in the best interest of this country? I’ll pass, thank you. Would that Illinois would send men like Everett Dirksen to Washington, D.C. THERE was a true gentlemen and statesman. Doesn’t Illinois have anyone like that anymore?
Mr. Green was also right, when he said that CN and the affected municipalities, will work things out. Pity they couldn’t have done it, without the likes of Durbin sticking his nose in it.
One final thing, Mr. Schurman; please don’t lecture me on tone. My tone pales in comparison to the absolute vitriol and pure hatred spewed forth against one Mr. Jeffrey Guse of Illinois, by people who frequent this forum. All because Mr. Guse disagrees with them. Hypocrites all.
Respectful, Mr. Schurman? You mean respectful in the same manner that Durbin is respectful to those of us, who totally disagree with and totally reject his extreme, Big Government, liberal point of view ?
Mr. Green has described “Little Dickie” perfectly. What is one to make of an electorate that elects a complete and utter moron like Durbin, to office? Are we to applaud their
wisdom and intelligence, hail their choice as being in the best interest of this country? I’ll pass, thank you. Would that Illinois would send men like Everett Dirksen to Washington, D.C. THERE was a true gentlemen and statesman. Doesn’t Illinois have anyone like that anymore?
Mr. Green was also right, when he said that CN and the affected municipalities, will work things out. Pity they couldn’t have done it, without the likes of Durbin sticking his nose in it.
One final thing, Mr. Schurman; please don’t lecture me on tone. My tone pales in comparison to the absolute vitriol and pure hatred spewed forth against one Mr. Jeffrey Guse of Illinois, by people who frequent this forum. All because Mr. Guse disagrees with them. Hypocrites all.
I live within 5 miles of Richton Park, and use the mentioned crossings several times. Yes the trains are long and frequent. CN has compensated the communites for every thing they have asked for. i’m sure the fence will eventually be built.
It is not wise to think that those you disagree with are “stupid”. We may have broken and weak institutions - but it’s not because “most people” are stupid.
I am not unaware of Illinois’ problems. If think GA is any less broken, you are sadly mistaken (but not stupid!). GA is just broken in different places.
I am no fan of Dick Durbin, but if you dismiss him and his constituency as “stupid”, you are just being intellectually lazy.
Also, are you saying that “being called on the carpet” carries no weight? You better believe CN will do and spend more to keep their name from getting smeared in the press again (deserved or undeserved) because of what Durbin said.
Sorry, Mr. Livingston. There are some of us who really feel it is okay to express their opinions ( including yours). I am a long time railfan and longtime professional railroader (retired). I love trains, no doubt about that. But, at some point, (I believe) it is appropriate to question what some of our elected officials are doing.
II do not have issues with Amtrak Overall. In fact, I am a supporter of most that the company does. However, trying to set up routes (even under sponsorship of a state that can’t afford adventures like this), I think monies would be better spent elsewhere. Such as:
- improved equipment
- improvement of current services
- finding ways to attract customers
- improved customer experience
And I have to admit, I am not in support of Congressional efforts to cut out passenger amenities. They are a major attraction for those of us who like long haul rail travel. Costs should be factored into the rates charged for passage.
Which is where I diverge from many conservatives in my take on the direction Amtrak should head.
Sorry, Mr. Livingston. There are some of us who really feel it is okay to express their opinions ( including yours). I am a long time railfan and longtime professional railroader (retired). I love trains, no doubt about that. But, at some point, (I believe) it is appropriate to question what some of our elected officials are doing.
II do not have issues with Amtrak Overall. In fact, I am a supporter of most that the company does. However, trying to set up routes (even under sponsorship of a state that can’t afford adventures like this), I think monies would be better spent elsewhere. Such as:
- improved equipment
- improvement of current services
- finding ways to attract customers
- improved customer experience
And I have to admit, I am not in support of Congressional efforts to cut out passenger amenities. They are a major attraction for those of us who like long haul rail travel. Costs should be factored into the rates charged for passage.
Which is where I diverge from many conservatives in my take on the direction Amtrak should head.
Just think, all the negatives about Illinois should bring to mind the most important thing no one has mentioned===THIS STATE IS WHERE OBUMA ORIGINATED AND THE SAME PEOPLE PROBABLY VOTED FOR HIM.
I’ve been reading this forum for a long time and read many entries by Mr. Guse, and many replies. Mr. Callahan, I don’t remember seeing anything close to hate-annoyance maybe, or frustration with someone who turned almost any topic into a diatribe against so called liberals and failed to address the issue at hand.
The problems between CN and the communities along the J have been ongoing, but both sides were gradually getting it worked out. Mr. Durbin was grandstanding, as politicians of all sorts tend to do. As far as I can tell, he is no worse than the knuckleheads we have in the statehouse in Indy. They and our past governor have been very willing to waste our tax dollars on roads, roads, and more roads (Hoosier Heartland and I69 south to name 2). And yes I have been a resident of Indiana for 61 years and a taxpayer for most of them.
I agree with Mr. Wayne Jenkins. Illinois is THE most corrupt State in the Union. Senator Dick Durbin knows nothing about
Railroading, zero! He talks just to hear himself talk. The CN
has done a great job of helping the train traffic around Chicago!
He should pay attention to his own habit of overspending our
tax dollars.
one edit, not Munger, it’s at Matteson.
The reports on the integration of the EJ&E are available @ http://www.stbfinancedocket35087.com/
It is quite fascinating reading.
(There is a super map at http://www.stbfinancedocket35087.com/html/pdfs/locationmap.pdf) .
Personally I think CN was brilliant to make this acquisition. Their trains from the south (old Illinois Central) swing on to the EJ&E (newly built interchange at Munger) bypassing Chicago congestion and connecting west at West Chicago or north at an interchange created in Mundelein (Leithton). Looking at the traffic in the site above and you can see that the EJ&E traffic is 3-5 times what it was previously. The traffic nearer in to Chicago is correspondingly has been reduced.
CN has overcome all objections, Dick Durbin is grandstanding and they will address the issues very effectively given their past record with much more complicated problems.
Major traffic choke points from the increased traffic are Rte.34/Ogden Ave in Aurora (Frontenac on the map, site of an now gone grain silo) and Rte. 60 (Diamond Lake on the map). Both of these in the process of planning for a grade separation.
Lake Zurich implemented a bypass of their downtown that included an underpass that opened before the heavy traffic started (Rte. 22 on the map).
Barrington is a problem with no real resolution but I have not noticed any major opposition after the initial hearings.
I live in Long Grove and the freight traffic through Prairie View east of me on 22 has dropped dramatically while Ela Area Library in Lake Zurich on 22 west of mehas become a pretty good train watching site.
What’s wrong with this picture? Politicians whose behavior has made Illinois one of the most corrupt state governments critizing a railroad clearing 40 cents on the dollar? Best way to fix this would be to put Tellier, Harrison, and Mongeau in charge of Illinois and the Illini wouldn’t know what hit them as the state takes a positive turn using Harrison’s Five Guiding Principles.
To Mr Livingston from Washington: Don’t understand why some liberals, responding to a conservative comment, complain that TRAINS is turning into a “Rush Limbaugh” newsletter, and either will not renew their subscription or are sorry they just renewed it.
Do they not understand that a forum is a discussion of issues from all points of views, and is not an editorial from TRAINS. Plus I thought that Liberals were all inclusive and welcomed diversity. Apparently not when someone disagrees with their point of view.