CN calls for decision on EJ&E decision by year end

 Canadian National Railway said the Surface Transportation Board should proceed quickly with a final decision on the CN's proposed acquisition of the principal lines of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Co. (EJ&E) to allow the transaction to close by the parties' Dec. 31 deadline.

   CN issued the call to the STB last week after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied its petition for an order compelling an immediate STB decision on the merits of the transaction. CN petitioned the court on Sept. 18.

   While CN is disappointed with the court's decision, we remain committed to the EJ&E acquisition and we see no reason why the STB cannot rule on the transaction quickly to permit it to close by year-end, said E. Hunter Harrison, CN president and chief executive officer.

   The STB said it will hold a public meeting Nov. 18 in Washington to review the environmental impact statement related to the acquisition. 

Source: American Shipper