As if the weather didn't cause enough problems, the Metra Electric main line in the south suburbs was severely damaged when a CN freight on the adjacent freight tracks derailed. Metra and South Shore trains will not operate today (Friday, 2/1). Here's a snippet from a Chicago Tribune article on the derailment:
"But the big headache for Metra has been on its Electric District line, which runs between downtown, and the South Side and south suburbs. Wednesday night, a Canadian National freight train derailed just south of the Harvey station and severely damaged Metra’s overhead wire structure and some of its electrical substations, said Metra spokesman Michael Gillis. This affected repairs made Wednesday. The incident near the CN yard pulled overhead wires down to the snow-covered tracks, and knocked over a metal support pole and gantry carrying the wires.
The Montreal-based freight railroad apologized for any impact the derailment had on Metra and Chicago commuters, and said it was working “diligently” with Metra to fix the problem. The derailment involved no injuries or dangerous goods and is under investigation, said spokesman Jonathan Abecassis.
South Shore Line President Michael Noland said that while the section of track is not in South Shore territory, the crash prevents South Shore trains from running Friday because it delays other repairs Metra needs to make on track the railroads share.
“There’s a fair amount of wire damage and a structure that’s destroyed and their crews are not going to be working in the best of conditions,” said Noland, who was at the scene of the wreck. “We’re coordinating with them to see if there’s anything we can do to help.”"
