METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Partial train derailment impacts some Metra, Amtrak Chicago-area service

At about 10:50 p.m. Tuesday when the third, fourth, and fifth cars of the eight-car train derailed. The derailed cars remained upright, and the other five cars and the locomotive remained on the tracks. There were three passengers on the train at the time; there were no injuries.

November 29, 2017
Partial train derailment impacts some Metra, Amtrak Chicago-area service

 

2 min to read


Passengers on the BNSF, SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor lines faced significant delays Wednesday morning due to the partial derailment of a SouthWest Service train on the south side of Union Station late Tuesday evening.

Inbound SouthWest Service Train 842 was arriving at the station at about 10:50 p.m. Tuesday when the third, fourth, and fifth cars of the eight-car train derailed. The derailed cars remained upright, and the other five cars and the locomotive remained on the tracks. There were three passengers on the train at the time; there were no injuries. The cause of the derailment is not known at this time.

Ad Loading...

Metra Alert SWS - Train #818 Arriving Chicago at 9:43 AM - 20 to 25 Minute Delay, Late Arrival of Equipment - Earlier Chicago Union Station, Derailment

— Metra SWS (@metraSWS) November 29, 2017

Crews were still working to remove the train from the scene early Wednesday. Once that is done, repairs will have to be made to several switches that were damaged in the incident. Those switches control a number of routes to the South Concourse platforms, and until they are fixed, all Metra and Amtrak trains will be restricted to a smaller number of tracks, according to Metra, which will likely result in congestion and delays of up to 30 minutes for BNSF and SWS customers and up to 15 minutes for Heritage Corridor customers.

Metra said it is likely that the evening rush period also will be impacted.

More Rail

A New York MTA subway car with an open gangway
Railby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 16, 2026

New York MTA Advances Final Contract for Second Avenue Subway Expansion

Contract Four is the largest in the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project and includes construction of station infrastructure, tracks, and signals for the subway expansion, MTA officials said. Work on Contract Four will begin in 2027.

Read More →
A San Diego MTS Copper Line vehicle
Railby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 15, 2026

San Diego MTS Breaks Monthly Trolley Ridership Record

Agency officials said July’s ridership indicates MTS’s continued recovery from the pandemic.

Read More →
NJ TRANSIT's new Multilevel III commuter railcar manufactured by Alstom
Railby Alex RomanSeptember 14, 2026

Report Examines NJ TRANSIT Reliability, Funding Challenges

The Garden State Initiative analysis examines the roles of Amtrak infrastructure, fleet management, and agency operations while recommending a more performance-based approach to improving reliability.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A CapMetro commuter rail train provided by Stadler
Railby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 11, 2026

Stadler, CapMetro Sign Long-Term Rail Fleet Support Agreement

Beginning in 2027, Stadler will provide on-site technical expertise, spare parts support, training, and obsolescence management to help extend the reliability and longevity of CapMetro’s GTW fleet.

Read More →
Rendering of an Alstom train in a VIA Rail Station
Technologyby Alex RomanSeptember 10, 2026

Biz Briefs: Alstom Lands Canadian Contract, LYT to Supply California TSP, and More

In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Complete Coach Works, Beep, FlixBus, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.

Read More →
The CATS Gold Line in service with the city skyline in the background.
Railby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 3, 2026

CATS Gold Line Marks 5 Years of Service, 2.8M Passenger Trips

With a six-mile expansion planned, the Charlotte streetcar is positioned to connect more neighborhoods and major transit hubs across the region.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Designing Stations Around the Passenger
RailSeptember 2, 2026

Why Simulating Pedestrian Movement Has Become Essential for Modern Rail Stations

Pedestrian microsimulation is helping rail planners identify bottlenecks, test station designs, and prepare complex transit hubs for growing passenger volumes.

Read More →
Amtrak Sunnyside Groundbreaking
Railby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 2, 2026

Amtrak Begins Major Construction at New York’s Sunnyside Yard

The new maintenance facility will support Amtrak’s Airo trainsets while improving maintenance efficiency and turnaround times in New York.

Read More →
O'Hare Flyer Rendering
Railby Staff and News ReportsAugust 27, 2026

Chicago Leaders Unveil Plans for O’Hare Airport Express Train

The privately developed project would offer a 15-minute trip between downtown and O’Hare’s Terminal 2, with trains operating every 15 minutes on a dedicated track. The service would use battery-electric trains and three existing freight rail rights-of-way.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An OCTA coastal rail line train.
Railby Staff and News ReportsAugust 27, 2026

OCTA Maps Out 30-Year Strategy to Protect Coastal Rail Corridor

The draft feasibility report identifies strategies to protect the coastal rail line for decades as the agency continues near-term stabilization and sand placement efforts.

Read More →