Train derails on Elgin south side

 

Elgin and railroad officials were on the scene of a freight train derailment Sunday afternoon that toppled several cars along tracks on the city’s south side. | Bill O'Neill~For Sun-Times Media

ELGIN — Metra commuters on the Milwaukee West line experienced minor delays Monday morning after a derailment Sunday afternoon “mangled” a portion of the tracks on Elgin’s south side. According to the Metra web site, the Train No. 2228, secheduled to leave Big Timber at 8:36 a.m,. was delayed 14 to 17 minutes.

Eight cars, all carrying steel cables, derailed just before 2 p.m. on the Milwaukee West line, a Canadian Pacific Railroad line, at Raymond Street and Purify Drive — the entrance to the Fox River Water Reclamation District plant.

According to the Metra web site, the Train No. 2228, secheduled to leave Big Timber at 8:36 a.m,. was delayed 14 to 17 minutes Monday morning.

According to Elgin police public information officer Sue Olafson, a passerby reported the derailment before the railroad reported the accident. While the 71-car train was carrying some hazardous materials, none of those cars was involved, and no injuries were reported, authorities said.

The train was westbound when the derailment occurred, Olafson said. Officials from the Canadian Pacific Railroad and Metra commuter rail agency were investigating the cause, and she was not aware whether the National Transportation Safety Board would also become involved in any investigation.

As of Sunday afternoon, all Metra passengers were being bused from the Bartlett station to Elgin’s National and Chicago Street stations (Metra does not run to the Big Timber station on Sunday). And busing may have to continue through Monday, officials said.

Police blocked off Raymond Street between Bluff City Boulevard and Kenyon Road, and St. Charles Street from Elgin Avenue to Kenyon Road, while the cars were removed and the rails replaced.

It was unknown as of about 5:30 p.m. whether the Bears game might mean more people taking the train out of Chicago on Sunday, added Metra spokesperson Meg Reile. “I don’t know how many went down for the Bears game, but we will be busing them back. It may take a little longer, and we have less-frequent service on Sunday, so … . It would have been a far bigger impact if (the derailment) had been a weekday before evening rush.”

Once the derailed cars were out of the way, crews were to replace the damaged track, she said. “We will work through the night, but we don’t know about tomorrow’s rush,” commuting times or schedules, Reile said.

She encouraged riders to check TV and radio reports in the morning to find out what the schedule might be. Riders also can sign up on the Metrarail.com website for service updates. “A MyMetra account can get notices to e-mail or cell phones for status of their services,” Reile said. “We do offer updates for select line and individual stations.”

Elgin police are seeking any witnesses to the train derailment and asked anyone with information to call 847-289-2700.

Story provided by: couriernews.suntimes.com