Crew availability will be very important. If the NS - CN can work out a crew sharing then trains would not be backed up in the whirlpool of Chicago. May take a bunch of qualifying runs with both RRs crews on other’s RR.
How much is CN using the old EJ&E? Is it the primary method for them to bypass Chicago?
You’re missing out if you think that’s a huge train. We’re running 240 car trains up here in/out/through Winnipeg.
From the linked article on TRAINS Newswire: "…Jim Squires, Norfolk Southern chairman, president and chief executive officer, said: “Together, CN and NS have re-engineered our Chicago connections to provide shippers with a new superior-service shipping option. Customers on both railways are seeing faster and more reliable service, benefiting their supply chains.”
Luc Jobin, CN president and chief executive officer, said: “Through collaboration, CN and NS are bringing more efficienc
Elkhart is definitely a key junction point for Norfolk Southern.
From there traffic can continue east on the old NYC and Pennsylvania all the way to the NY/NJ and Philly areas.
Traffic can also travel east on the NYC and then pick up the former Norfolk & Western to access Virginia.
And traffic can also travel due south from Elkhart through Cincinnati to Atlanta.
If one would consider the CN from Winnepeg to Chicago to Elkhart as a main “stem” off the CN east-west “trunk”, those routes branch off to important population centers from Elkhart.
So the idea that it might develop in to more interline with shorter delivery times certainly sounds very reasonable.