610 ILCS 70

in effect

610 ILCS 70/0.01

(610 ILCS 70/0.01) (from Ch. 114, par. 49b.9) Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Railroad Powers Act. (Source: P.A. 86-1324.)

(610 ILCS 70/1) (from Ch. 114, par. 49c) Sec. 1. Every railroad company heretofore or hereafter organized under the laws of this State, or under the laws of this State and another State or States, shall have power to lease, sell, transfer and convey the whole or any part of its railroad and all or any part of its other property to, and shall have power to consolidate with, acquire by merger, or be merged into any other railroad company organized under any law of this State, or under the laws of this State and another State or States, or under the law of any other State or States, having power to purchase or lease the same, or to consolidate or merge with the same, and such acquiring or new or surviving corporation shall be deemed to possess within this State all the rights, privileges and franchises of each such corporation of this State so consolidated or merged, including the power of eminent domain, but no lease or sale of all or substantially all of its property, and no consolidation or merger, shall be made with any other railroad owning a parallel or competing line, nor without the consent or approval of the holders of two-thirds in amount of its outstanding capital stock, expressed at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, of which sixty days' notice shall be published in newspapers in the place of the principal office in Illinois of the company or companies existing under Illinois Law. The acquiring railroad shall hold the railroad property situated in this State, and the rights, privileges and franchises to be exercised in this State, including the power of eminent domain, subject to the laws of this State for the regulation, government, taxation or control of railroads organized, or which may be organized under the laws of this State. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 1308.)

610 ILCS 70/1a

(610 ILCS 70/1a) (from Ch. 114, par. 49c1) Sec. 1a. Such consolidation or merger as authorized by Section 1 shall take effect upon the filing and recording of such articles of consolidation or merger in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Illinois, and a certified copy thereof in the office of the Recorders of the various Counties in which said railroad is situated. A certified copy of such articles of consolidation or merger, under seal of the Secretary of State, shall be deemed and taken to be prima facie evidence of the existence of such consolidated or surviving corporation. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 1308.)

610 ILCS 70/1.1

(610 ILCS 70/1.1) (from Ch. 114, par. 49c.01) Sec. 1.1. This Act does not apply to railroads incorporated after July 1, 1985, or to railroads which are reincorporated under the Business Corporation Act of 1983, as amended. (Source: P.A. 84-796.)

610 ILCS 70/1.05

(610 ILCS 70/1.05) Sec. 1.05. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, any power granted under this Act to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act. (Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

610 ILCS 70/2

(610 ILCS 70/2) (from Ch. 114, par. 49d) Sec. 2. Nothing in this Act contained shall be construed as authorizing any lease, sale, transfer or conveyance, or any consolidation or merger, as provided in Section 1 of this Act when there shall be in force any law of this State or any law of the United States of America requiring the consent or approval of any commission or other governmental agency unless such consent or approval shall be obtained. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 1308.)

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs.aspFetched: 10/17/2026