Two Years Later: The Railway Safety and Monitoring Coalition Remains Focused on Community Protection

In March 2023, the Surface Transportation Board approved the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads, creating CPKC – the first single-line freight rail network stretching from Canada to Mexico. While the railroad promised efficiency and economic growth, the communities directly impacted by the increased train traffic have experienced something vastly different.

The Coalition to Stop CPKC, now doing business as (DBA) the Railway Safety & Monitoring Coalition, comprised of eight Chicagoland municipalities and DuPage County. This Coalition was formed to protect residents from this merger's unanticipated public safety, traffic, and quality-of-life consequences. Since its foundation, the Coalition has worked tirelessly to ensure the voice of these communities, their residents, and small businesses is heard in what has often felt like a David vs. Goliath fight.

During the past two years, the Coalition has led a multi-pronged effort that includes legal action, real-time data monitoring, and regional planning. In May 2025, the CoaliLon and community representatives presented oral arguments in Washington, D.C., urging the U.S. Court of Appeals to require a more thorough environmental review of the merger. While the court ultimately denied the Coalition’s appeal, the decision allows us to shift our focus to oversight and enforcement during the STB’s mandated seven-year monitoring period.

In partnership with CPKC, as mandated by the oversight mitigations, the Coalition has helped facilitate the installation of LinqThingz, a predictive mobility technology that provides real-time train activity. LinqThingz sensors have been installed throughout CoaliLon communities to collect up-to-the-minute data on train traffic, including frequency, length, speed, and crossing times. Until now, much of the data used to measure this impact came from the railroad itself, often based on projections or assumptions that don’t reflect what residents are directly experiencing. This new technology finally provides access to real-time data that alerts emergency responders and motorists about blocked crossings or extended delays so they can reroute accordingly, potentially saving lives in some instances.

The Coalition is also exploring a multi-year contract with TRAINFO. This additional predictive mobility technology will supplement LinqThingz by collecting current train traffic data, providing crucial evidence the Coalition needs to advocate for mitigation funding, policy changes, and better planning support at the state and federal levels.

These proprietary technologies come at a cost, but through strategic partnerships, the CoaliLon has secured more than $2 million in grant funding from the State of Illinois and the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All program to support these efforts, reducing additional burdens on taxpayers or community resources.

As we continue to experience the real-world, daily impacts of the merger, the Coalition’s efforts are more critical than ever. Since the merger in 2023, newly analyzed data confirms what many suburban residents have experienced firsthand: longer trains, more frequent delays, and increasing disruptions. According to reports prepared for the CoaliLon, train volumes and average train lengths on the MD-W Line have risen significantly.

In April 2025, average daily freight traffic reached its highest post-merger level, with several trains stretching over 10,000 feet, far beyond the STB’s assumed 6,817 feet. In one instance, a single freight train took over four hours to travel between Elgin and Bensenville. These longer trains and extended travel times compound the disruptions drivers and emergency responders face at rail crossings, some located directly in the middle of a bustling downtown.

The Coalition argues that the STB's original assumptions understated the merger's impacts on these suburban communities. This new data shows that stronger oversight and more aggressive enforcement of mitigation measures are urgently needed to protect the safety and mobility of nearly half a million residents across the region.

As we enter the third year of this work, the CoaliLon’s mission remains steadfast: to protect public interest, demand accountability, and ensure our communities remain safe, connected, and heard.