Yellow Line train derails near Howard terminal, disrupting service on 3 CTA lines
A CTA train derailed Thursday evening near the Howard terminal in the Rogers Park neighborhood, disrupting service on the Red, Purple, and Yellow lines for several hours.
Video from CBS Skywatch showed a two-car Yellow Line train derailed in a large switching yard near the Howard station. The front car of the train appeared to jump the track, leaving passengers shaken.
"CTA crews are on-site and working as quickly as possible to resume normal operations due to a report of the derailment of a train approaching the Howard station," a CTA spokesperson said in an email.
Chicago Fire Department District Chief Michael Davita said five ambulances, four fire engines, two fire trucks, and about 50 firefighters responded to the scene. Firefighters shut off power to the tracks and helped the CTA evacuate approximately 80 passengers from the train. No injuries were reported.
"I thought they were electrified rails. It's been a while since I've been in Chicago. I'm a Florida boy," passenger James Hale said.
Passengers said they heard an unusual thump and what sounded like chains breaking when the train derailed.
"We were in the second car. You could see the first car was off the rails," Bob Schiffman said.
The derailment prompted the CTA to suspend service on the entire Yellow and Purple lines, and part of the Red Line.
Many passengers on the derailed train had just left the Cubs game at Wrigley Field. The Cubs got the win over the Phillies, but many on that Yellow Line train can't say their ride home was a win.
CTA officials were investigating what caused the derailment.
Service on the Red Line resumed by around 9:15 p.m., and service on the Yellow and Purple lines were restored overnight.