Metra apologized to customers after the “unprecedented” shutdown of Union station Wednesday that caused major delays and overcrowding.
Metra CEO Don Orseno explained in the statement that Amtrak experienced a complete failure of their dispatching system when their main server collapsed, preventing all trains from entering and exiting the station.
“It would be an understatement for me to say that the situation at Chicago Union Station last night was difficult,” Orseno said. “It was certainly a very challenging and frustrating night for everyone involved and I would like to offer an explanation of what happened.”
“I don’t need to tell you that the timing couldn’t have been worse,” Orseno continued. “At 5 p.m., we are already well into an evening rush hour that typically sees about 43,000 Metra customers pass through the station. Thousands of you were already heading to the station or had already arrived as the shutdown occurred.”
Photos show a large number of passengers crowded at Union Station platforms during the chaos.
