(The Chicago Tribune posted the following article on its website on August 24.)
CHICAGO — A normal rush hour was expected this afternoon after a freight train derailment on Chicago’s West Side caused delays this morning for riders of the Metra Union Pacific West line, a spokesman for the commuter rail system said.
A Union Pacific freight train derailed about 3:30 a.m. near Kedzie and Carroll Avenues, according to Metra spokesman Tom Miller. No injuries were reported, but the mishap blocked two of three tracks at that location.
Commuter trains were routed around the wreck site on the sole open track as crews worked to re-rail the freight cars. UP West line riders heading downtown this morning experienced delays of 15 to 20 minutes.
Workers continued to clean up the derailment at midday, but delays had ended and no further problems were expected, Miller said.
The Chicago Transit Authority honored Metra tickets from 6 to 10 a.m. between Oak Park and the Loop on the CTA Green Line, which runs parallel to the Metra line.
The UP West line handles a weekday inbound ridership of about 13,000, according to the Regional Transportation Authority Asset Management System Web site.