(The Northwest Indiana Times posted the following Associated Press article on its website on June 23.)
RIVERDALE, Ill. — FBI agents were called in early Monday to assist local authorities in investigating a blaze that destroyed a commuter railroad trestle, according to Metra, the Chicago-area commuter rail agency.
The overnight extra-alam fire at 137th Street and Prairie Avenue halted all Metra electric train service south of Riverdale, stranding thousands of morning commuters from such southern Chicago suburbs as University Park.
Although Metra had not arranged shuttle bus service, agency spokewoman Audrey Renteria said most commuters should be able to use lines serving other south suburban communities. Additionally, the South Shore Railroad, which runs between Chicago and South Bend, Ind., was honoring Metra tickets and passes, Renteria said.
The Metra line that serves Riverdale and University Park was still running Monday between downtown Chicago and the Kensington stop on the city’s far South Side, Renteria said.