21 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

NBC Chicago, 9/30/13:

33 Injured After 2 CTA Trains Collide

More than 30 people were injured Monday morning after two trains running on the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line tracks collided, CTA officials confirmed.

Here is that story.

[KevinKorell]

NBC Chicago, 9/30/13:

CTA Train May Have Been Stolen from Yard

Sources within the Chicago Transit Authority said this morning investigators are looking into the possibility that one of the CTA Blue Line trains involved in a collision in Forest Park might have been taken from the yard without authorization.

Read this one.

[KevinKorell]

Chicago, IL Tribune, 9/30/13:

CTA crash: 33 people taken to hospitals after trains collide

CTA officials are investigating how an out of service train ran head-on into a train stopped at a Blue Line station in Forest Park this morning, sending dozens of people to hospitals.

Continue

[KevinKorell]

Now reports are circulating that two commuter trains collided today. At first I thought Metra also had an accident this morning. But there are no reports from Metra that this took place. In fact, the photo caption and first line of text in the article here from CNN calls them commuter trains, but that's not what I see in the photo at all.

2 trains crash in Chicago; dozens injured

Two commuter trains crashed Monday near Chicago, injuring dozens of people, CNN affiliate WLS reported.

Incorrect reporting here.

[KevinKorell]

As with any breaking news story, the numbers will be fluid until the dust settles and investigations are complete. Early reports seemed to agree with 33 people being injured, but now stories are coming out that it was 48 people. Of course in a major city it's possible that 15 uninvolved people jumped onto the wrecked train to claim they were injured in the accident.

[KevinKorell]

From CTA website:

Blue Line trains bypassing Harlem Station

Route(s):
Blue Line

Length: Monday, September 30, 2013 - 7:59 AM to TBD

Impact Level:

Minor Delays, Station(s) Bypassed

Full Description:

Blue Line trains are not stopping at Harlem due to an incident involving a train.

Service has resumed to Forest Park.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

[KevinKorell]

A few more bits of information (or speculation) from the CBS affiliate in Chicago. First, some shuttle buses, rather than taking people from the station where the incident occurred to other adjacent Blue Line stations, is taking some people to the Green Line to continue their trips into the Loop.

Also, some speculation that the train that left the yard may not have had a motorman (or anyone) in the operating cab for its ill fated wrong rail trip from the yard to the point of impact. Could this be a runaway train ?

http://chicago.cbslo...train-accident/

[KevinKorell]

NBC Chicago, 9/30/13:

CTA Passengers 'Yelling, Screaming' After Collision

Gary Harrison and Cathy Bowes didn't expect a trip to Chicago would land one of them in the hospital after a train collision.

"Everybody kept saying, 'You better take the train. It's safer that way,'" Bowes said. "It's not."

Continue

[KevinKorell]

Chicago, IL Tribune, 9/30/13:

Half-mile journey before CTA 'ghost train' collision baffles investigators

Investigators face a daunting challenge to sort out the bizarre half-mile journey of an out-of-service, possibly driverless CTA "ghost train" that breached multiple safeguards before colliding with another Blue Line train Monday morning.

Here is this story.

[amtrakwolverine]

If it's a runaway then maybe someone in the yard got lazy and didn't set all the proper safety systems.