South Shore Line trains began running again Tuesday night, hours after a Chicago-bound train derailed in the city’s Loop.
Regular weekday train service resumed in both directions as of 8 p.m., Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District spokesman John Parsons said. The South Shore Line expected to operate a regular morning rush hour schedule Wednesday, he said, with a reduced number of cars on each train.
"Expect crowded conditions on most trains," the spokesman said in a statement.
"We plan to use all available cars including bike rack cars," Parsons said. "Maintenance crews are expected to work throughout the night to clear the derailment and restore normal service to South Shore’s platform at Millennium Station."
Between 2:30 and 2:40 p.m., westbound train number 18 derailed as it approached Millennium Station, located at the corner of Randolph St. and Michigan Ave., according transit police Chief Bob Byrd.
The rear two cars of the passenger train derailed "at a slow speed going into the station," Byrd said.
Two passengers sustained minor injuries, according to Parsons. Further details on the injuries were not immediately available.
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All passengers were able to safely exit the train, which was scheduled to arrive at 2:14 p.m. after departing the South Bend Airport station in northwest Indiana at 12:49 p.m.
All east and westbound trains were blocked ahead of the evening rush hour, Byrd said, as the agency awaited a heavy-duty crane to pick up the cars and rerail them.
South Shore tickets were honored on the Electric District line for several hours, which experienced delays of approximately 15 to 20 minutes, according to Metra.
The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.
