Around 80 or 90 trains plow through the junction on a typical day, not counting the commuter trains and occasional freights on the overhead line. The joint line sees the most action, but CSX and CN are busy lines as well. There is a small tower on Broadway in the middle of the junction housing the the crossing gates operator. The interlocking tower is at the far north end of the junction across the Calumet Sag Channel, and is clearly visible from Broadway. The bridges on the north and the overhead Rock Island tracks on the south make Blue Island unique among busy junctions here or anywhere else.
Blue Island features a wide diversity of trains.
BNSF and Wisconsin Central road trains and transfers pass through here on the joint line and the CSX line. Both access Barr and Blue Island Yards. CP trains using trackage rights on CSX and IHB traverse the joint line on their way to Bensenville Yard northwest of Chicago. In addition to Iowa Interstate, the Belt Railroad and Chicago Rail Link occasionally make an appearance. Blue Island is a cornucopia of trains.