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Durbin urges Canadian rail line to resolve dispute with Amtrak over new passenger service

Durbin (UPI file)
File photo
Durbin (UPI file)

By Matt Sepic, KWMU

St. Louis – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is pressuring the Canadian National Railway to resolve a dispute with Amtrak.

In July, CN agreed to let the passenger rail service operate two more round trip trains between Chicago and St. Louis, and one extra round trip between Chicago and Carbondale.

The new service is supposed to begin this Monday, but on Friday, CN told Amtrak it's only allowing one more Chicago-St. Louis trip, and only for a year.

Durbin said passengers have already bought tickets, and it's in CN's best interest to solve the problem.

"Railroads come to see me all the time, about a lot of different issues," Durbin said. "And I try to work with them because they're an important part of our economy. But if this continues to be a problem, it's going to make it very difficult for Canadian National to come to Capitol Hill and expect much help from the Illinois delegation."

Durbin says Amtrak and CN are in negotiations.

Canadian National could not be reached for comment.

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