Derailment Causes Metra Electric Delays

'Minor" Derailment to slow morning commute

A minor Metra train derailment Tuesday morning near south suburban Richton Park has blocked some trains from operating and delayed service on the Metra Electric University Park Line in the south suburbs.

A train with no passengers on board had a minor derailment about 4 a.m. while exiting the Richton Park rail yard, according to Metra spokesman Tom Miller, who said the derailment was possibly caused by a broken rail. It was not immediately clear how many cars derailed.

The rail yard is located near the intersection of Sauk Trail and Governor's Highway.

The train was leaving the rail yard, traveling at a slow rate of speed at the time and the engineer was on board. No one was hurt.

The derailment has blocked the main line between Richton Park and University Park, which means no trains can operate out of University Park, according to a service alert on Metra’s Web site.

As of 6:50 a.m., all available equipment from Richton Park is being used to operate service between Matteson and Chicago and 15 minute delays as well as extremely crowded trains are anticipated as rush hour progresses, the alert said.

The bus service used by Metra will not be able to provide bus service between the University Park and Richton Park stations and commuters who can are advised to ride the Rock Island District trains or the South Shore trains out of Hegewisch.

Both rail lines will honor tickets purchased for the Electric Line. All municipalities along the line have been contacted by Metra, which has requested they relax their parking restrictions, according to the alert.

Electric District train No. 106 scheduled to depart University Park at 6:34 a.m. and arrive at Millennium Station at 7:51 a.m. will not operate.

A train was scheduled to depart Calumet at 6:51 a.m. and was expected to make stops at Hazel Crest, Harvey, 147th, Ivanhoe, Riverdale and Kensington.

There was also a train scheduled to depart Matteson at 6:48 a.m. and stop at 211th, Olympia Fields, Flossmoor, Homewood and Kensington, the Metra alert said.

The derailment has only affected the Metra Electric University Park Line, according to Miller, who said the cause of the derailment was being looked into by Metra.

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