North Cook News

SCHAUMBURG, IL – In response to the derailment of a Canadian Pacific Kansas City train carrying hazardous waste on May 31, 2023, in Minnesota, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi issued the following statement:

“While I am relieved that there have been not been any reported casualties or toxic spills resulting from this derailment, this example is one in a chain of recent train derailments involving hazardous materials that should serve as an enormous wakeup call for federal regulators. I urge our rail and transportation safety agencies to revisit what needs to be done to keep Americans safe. As my own constituents face the specter of dramatically increased rail traffic through our region, especially of hazardous materials, as a result of the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, I urge federal regulators to also revisit the specific safety and mitigation requirements necessary to prevent the Chicagoland region from finding itself part of another train derailment horror story.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi has been an outspoken opponent of the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern Rail merger, working with local leaders in opposition to the merger, speaking out against it in the STB’s September 2022 public meeting in Itasca, calling for an additional environmental impact statement on the merger’s effects on the Chicago area, and criticizing the STB’s approval of the merger. More recently, the Congressman has joined colleagues in calling for additional reviews of the merger’s role in increasing the risk of hazardous material spills in the Chicago area and urging the Federal Railroad Administration to review the safety measures and mitigation provisions in the STB’s decision. Last month, Congressman Krishnamoorthi submitted testimony against the merger to the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Original source can be found here.