MAY 18, 2015
JOLIET, ILLINOIS (AP)
A freight train derailment has caused delays lasting hours
for Amtrak passengers traveling between St. Louis and Chicago.
Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis says two cars from a
freight train derailed south of the Joliet Amtrak station about 9 p.m. Sunday.
No one was injured, but WLS-TV reports the tracks didn't reopen until about 5
a.m. Monday.
Amtrak says charter buses were brought in to take passengers
to their destination. WMAQ-TV reports one bus arrived in Chicago about 3:30
a.m.
Monday, more than four hours behind the train's scheduled arrival.
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (WLS)
Amtrak passengers were stranded for hours after a Union
Pacific freight train derailed overnight just south of Joliet.
Union Pacific crews were doing maintenance on the track when the wheels of two rail cars that were carrying heavy rock came off the tracks around 9 p.m. Sunday. No one was hurt as a result of the derailment.
As a result, Amtrak trains #306 and #307 were held up for several hours, stranding dozens of passengers traveling between St. Louis and Chicago.
"They said a train derailed in Joliet. That's why we were delayed. We've been waiting for a bus. We've been stuck here for at least four or five hours," said Anthony Broadway, an Amtrak passenger.
"It's actually really aggravating, to sit here since that long. It's wrong. They should do something. Refund our tickets, something. To take this long to get buses," said Tammy Chavez, another Amtrak rider.
Amtrak passengers were eventually placed on coach buses and taken to different destinations.
The tracks reopened early Monday. Two Texas Eagle trains and eight service trains use that stretch of rail between Chicago and St. Louis.
Union Pacific crews were doing maintenance on the track when the wheels of two rail cars that were carrying heavy rock came off the tracks around 9 p.m. Sunday. No one was hurt as a result of the derailment.
As a result, Amtrak trains #306 and #307 were held up for several hours, stranding dozens of passengers traveling between St. Louis and Chicago.
"They said a train derailed in Joliet. That's why we were delayed. We've been waiting for a bus. We've been stuck here for at least four or five hours," said Anthony Broadway, an Amtrak passenger.
"It's actually really aggravating, to sit here since that long. It's wrong. They should do something. Refund our tickets, something. To take this long to get buses," said Tammy Chavez, another Amtrak rider.
Amtrak passengers were eventually placed on coach buses and taken to different destinations.
The tracks reopened early Monday. Two Texas Eagle trains and eight service trains use that stretch of rail between Chicago and St. Louis.