Friday, February 20, 2015

COLD WEATHER, SUBURBAN DERAILMENT IN JOLIET CAUSE METRA HEADACHES




FEBRUARY 20, 2015



CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire)




Frigid temperatures and a minor derailment in southwest suburban Joliet were causing problems during the Friday morning rush for Metra commuters.




Outbound Union Pacific Metra train 303 scheduled to arrive in Waukegan at 6:49 a.m. was stopped in Lake Bluff for emergency repair after a rail broke in the cold temperatures, Metra spokesman Michael Gillis said.




The train was running about 25 minutes behind schedule as of 7 a.m., according to Metra's website.




A pair of train runs were also canceled after the derailment at a Joliet trainyard, Gillis said.




Neither Heritage Corridor train 916 scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 7:25 a.m. nor Rock Island District train 302 scheduled to arrive at 8:42 a.m. will operate this morning, Gillis said. H-C train 918 amd R-I trains 416 and 616 will accomodate passengers from those trains.




Metra officials urged riders to check their website for transit alerts as the bitter cold wreaks havoc on the rail system.