The Altenheim Sub itself wouldn't affect Metra either way. But further up the line (north of Franklin Park), CN is reducing freight traffic on their ex-Soo Line tracks, which should allow more North Central trains.
Under the original CREATE plan, the Altenheim Sub would have been reconstructed and linked to a new CN corridor running southeast to Grand Junction, giving CN a dedicated corridor through the city. With the EJ&E purchase, the need for the Altenheim Sub and the ex-Soo Line has been eliminated or greatly reduced.
Essentially, CN's EJ&E purchase should remove the majority of CN trains from their lines inside the EJ&E, leaving a bunch of CN-owned, urban/suburban rail corridors that are unused or lightly used.
There's the ex-Soo Line going north from Franklin Park, then an IC corridor heading west (proposed for Amtrak service to Rockford/Dubuque) and one heading south along Metra Electric.
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la forme d'une ville change plus vite, hélas! que le coeur d'un mortel...
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