CN Rail is closing Centralia Yard in Illinois, effective today, Monday, May 3. In conjunction with this closure, several operational changes are planned by the railroad.

More switching at Champaign, Illinois, as well as the Champaign crews running all the way through to Fulton, Kentucky, are part of this plan. The plan is for the use of directional operation using the Edgewood Cut Off and Champaign and Centralia Subdivisions. Most southbounds will use the Cut Off, while most northbounds will use the other route.

In Chicago, Glenn and Markham Yards are going to start classifying a few more blocks, including a Fulton, KY block. Prior to this, all cars going to Centralia or further south were placed into a single Centralia block and were reclassified there. Now, cars going to Memphis and points south will be classified into a Memphis block and reclassified there. Cars for points in between Champaign and Memphis (aside from Fultons) will get
classified at Champaign.

Champaign will only be making a couple of new blocks and will not increase the workload by much. Champaign will begin making Fulton and Paducah blocks.

In order to facilitate the planned changes, CN Rail will implement a new train, symbol M33491, which will be a Champaign to New Orleans train.