What to Know
- Metra lines are operating under alternate schedules Wednesday and Thursday. Metra Electric District line service was suspended indefinitely
- Metra advised travelers to allow extra time for travel and expect reduced speeds because of the extreme cold
- Commuters are advised to continue to monitor Metra's website for updates
Metra train lines were plagued by issues Wednesday as a dangerous deep freeze set in across the area.
Service on the Metra Electric District line was suspended indefinitely, the rail agency said at around 7 a.m., due to wire problems caused by the sub-zero temperatures.
Customers were urged to seek alternate transportation, with Metra recommending the Rock Island line or CTA routes.
All Metra lines were operating under alternate schedules Wednesday and Thursday because of the extreme weather conditions, the agency announced Monday evening. The full schedules can be found on Metra's website here.
Metra advised travelers to allow extra time for travel on Wednesday as temperatures lower than -10 degrees will reduce train speeds to 60 mph.
The Rock Island line was operating with 15 to 20-minute delays due to switch problems, Metra said Wednesday, as was the Heritage Corridor line.
From the western suburbs, the BNSF Railway line was between 14 and 32 minutes behind schedule due to "emergency track repairs," Metra said.
Two sets of gates near the Brookfield station on the BNSF line, located near Burlington and Maple, as well as near Burlington and Prairie, were stuck down for several hours beginning overnight early Wednesday. Police were on the scene directing cars around the gates when it was safe. It was not clear when the gates would be fixed.
Local
Nearly every other Metra line - Union Pacific Northwest, Milwaukee District North, Union Pacific North and Union Pacific Northwest, among others - were also operating under delays due to signal problems or mechanical failures.
Commuters were advised to continue to monitor Metra's website for updates.
