Woman, 19, Killed After Crashing Into Metra Train
Police are blaming the road conditions for an accident Wednesday evening that killed a 19-year-old Woodstock woman who drove into a Metra train.
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Police are blaming the road conditions for an accident Wednesday evening that killed a 19-year-old Woodstock woman who drove into a Metra train.
Commuters standing in the cold are wondering: What's the deal? WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller asks the railroads.
One person was killed when a Metra train struck a vehicle in far northwest suburban Woodstock Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
Metra officials said commuters can expect a good rush hour Thursday morning, despite subzero temperatures and wind chills as low as 30 below zero. Chief Operations Officer Pete Zwolfer said snow presents more of a problem than cold, although the arctic temperatures might slow things down a bit.
A pedestrian was struck by two outbound Metra trains that had been linked together Sunday night on the Union Pacific/Northwest Line in northwest suburban Arlington Heights.
The CTA says operations are largely back to normal tonight after switching problems caused significant delays on nearly all of its lines this morning and made thousands of people late for work, school or other appointments.
The suburban commuter rail agency is considering allowing small pets on weekends on the Rock Island Line, with some conditions.
A year ago, it seemed everyone who rode Metra was complaining about lousy service in the teeth of a bitterly cold and snowy winter. While there are still complaints this winter, they are far fewer than this time a year ago, when each day seemed to bring new emergencies.
A Regional Transportation Authority analysis released Thursday has determined that the CTA, Metra and Pace face $36.4 billion in capital needs over the next 10 years.
Metra says 29 people were killed in accidents involving Metra trains last year.
Tuesday, it was slimy black water on the south concourse floor. Friday afternoon, the water was clear, for the most part, but it left a big puddle at the bottom of the staircase leading to Gates 6, 8 and beyond.
Inbound train No. 114, which was scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 12:35 p.m., is stopped near Prairie Grove due to a Nicor gas leak, according to Metra's website. The train is currently about 50 minutes late.
After a solid performance in its first major winter weather test on Tuesday, Metra's top official said the commuter rail agency has been spending what it takes to keep the system running as smoothly as possible during the bitter cold.
Snow plows were out in full force Monday evening has a winter storm hit the Chicago area with several inches of snow expected to be on the ground by Tuesday morning.
Metra says it's putting into practice, everything it learned during last year's Polar Vortex which created long and repeated delays for commuters, reports WBBM's John Cody.
The person was struck by UP-Northwest Line Train 608 about 5:40 a.m. Friday near 3 Oaks Road and the Cary Depot, according to Metra spokesman Michael Gillis.
Ed Suarez said he couldn't believe his eyes Monday when he saw a disoriented 80-year-old woman drive onto the railroad tracks in Western Springs at the height of the evening rush, but he's glad he didn't think twice about springing into action.
At 5:17 p.m., the 80-year-old woman driving southbound on Wolf Road turned eastbound onto the railroad tracks, and her vehicle got stuck, according to Western Springs Police Sgt. John Piest.
Metra and Amtrak have a new plan to deal with overcrowding at Chicago Union Station, reports WBBM's Bob Roberts.
The driver of a semi heading south in the 7400 block of South Exchange struck a pillar holding electrical wires overhead about 5:30 p.m., according to Metra and Chicago Police officials.
As of 4:30 a.m., inbound trains on the Milwaukee District / West Line were delayed between 15 and 20 minutes, according to Metra's website.
An 11-year-old boy was struck by a Metra Electric Line train Tuesday morning in south suburban Blue Island.
The increase will average nearly 11 percent, depending on type of ticket and length of ride. For some passengers, ticket prices could rise more than 20 percent.
CEO Don Orseno ran through some of the new equipment and procedures that are expected to prevent commuters from freezing on Metra platforms this winter.
The head of the Chicago's areas umbrella transit agency recommends Metra follow up reports that many of its locomotive engineers conductors bring home over $100,000 a year, reports WBBM's John Cody.
