CTA Brown Line moving again after slight derailment near Kimball stop
CTA Brown Line trains were disrupted all day Monday after a train went slightly off the tracks at the Kimball terminal in the morning.
The service disruption began around 7:45 a.m. CBS Skywatch was over the scene, where at least one wheel of the train clearly off the L tracks.
Hours later, on the ground, CBS News Chicago cameras caught dozens of CTA workers physically pushing the train car, clearing that part of the track, and starting repairs.
Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen was also near the tracks as crews worked, although she declined to comment on camera.
There were no initial reports of injuries or any medical issues.
The derailment suspended Brown Line service between the Kimball terminal in Albany Park and Southport stop in Lakeview after the derailment. Trains only operated between Southport and Clark/Lake for the morning rush and for several hours after.
Issues had been resolved and trains started moving again around 1:30 p.m.
"What might have happened here is track problems — the train's negotiating a switch, and there's some wheel interactions that may have caused the wheels to jump the tracks," said public transportation expert Joe Schweiterman of DePaul University. "The train is moving at a slow speed, but it's an indication that maybe something may not be right."
Exactly one week ago, a Yellow Line train derailed near the Howard stop, and CTA officials said that was caused by a signal switch.
Public Transportation expert Joe Schweiterman pointed to a 2024 map of the CTA's slow zones, areas of the track where trains are required to operate at slower speeds due to track conditions and other "temporary concerns." The map shows the north side of the Brown Line has multiple slow zones in place.
"We're seeing more incidences," Schweiterman said. "There's derailments, we have slow zones, we have malfunctions. It's a real indication that this CTA is struggling, likely, with track maintenance here that may have caused this derailment. The system needs modernization, and right now it's a tough situation."
Schwieterman explained what might be behind the systemic problems.
"We had a good run modernizing the track, but things are slipping again," said Schwieterman. "Federal funding is less."
As we move out of the summer months, there is a concern that there will be even more issues with CTA trains as the weather changes.
"It could be a tough fall. We have direct maintenance issues, slow zones. Of course, there's financial issues looming, and customers are pretty anxious right now," said Schwieterman. "There's service reliability problems that need attention"
CTA officials told passengers to allow for extra time as they worked to fully restore service following the Monday morning derailment.