Service Disruptions

[tobuadantoq]

METRA BNSF
METRA BNSF TRAIN #1237 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE AURORA AT 3:58PM IS OPERATING 15-20 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE DUE TO SIGNAL PROBLEMS.

MILWAUKEE DISTRICT NORTH
MILWAUKEE DISTRICT NORTH TRAIN #2138 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE UNION STATION AT 3:18PM IS OPERATING 15-25 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE DUE TO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.

METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST
METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRAIN #648 SCHEDULED TO DEPART CRYSTAL LAKE AT 3:00PM TO ARRIVE OGILVIE TRANSPORTATION CENTER AT 4:23PM HAS BEEN CANCELLED THIS EVENING DUE TO AN EARLIER INCIDENT INVOLVING A TRESPASSER NEAR BARRINGTON.

UPDATED 3:05PM
METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRAIN #619 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE HARVARD AT 3:20PM HAS RECEIVED TRAIN #617 PASSENGERS AND IS NOW ON THE MOVE. THIS TRAIN IS OPERATING 35-45 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE DUE TO AN EARLIER INCIDENT INVOLVING A TRESPASSER NEAR BARRINGTON.

METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST
UPDATED 1:52PM
METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRAIN #617 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE CRYSTAL LAKE AT 1:55PM IS STOPPED NEAR BARRINGTON DUE TO AN INCIDENT WITH A TRESPASSER. DURATION OF THE DELAY IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME AND WE WILL PROVIDE UPDATED INFORMATION ONCE IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

UPDATED 2:12PM
AT THE CURRENT TIME, ALL METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST LINE TRAINS TRAVELING INBOUND AND OUTBOUND WILL BE STOPPED IN THE VICINITY OF BARRINGTON DUE TO THE INCIDENT WITH THE TRESPASSER. THE FOLLOWING TRAINS WILL STOP PRIOR TO APPROACHING THE SCENE OF THE INCIDENT:
TRAIN #619 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE HARVARD AT 3:20PM AND WILL BE STOPPED AT PALATINE.
TRAIN #646 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE OGILVIE TRANSPORTATION CENTER AT 3:23PM AND WILL BE STOPPED AT BARRINGTON.

[buddah]

here goes an article for delays on the UP northwest line on wed. the 18th of march 09.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/transporta ... 09.article

[tobuadantoq]

METRA BNSF
METRA BNSF TRAIN #1272 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE UNION STATION AT 4:55PM IS STOPPED NEAR CICERO DUE TO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. WE WILL PROVIDE UPDATED INFORMATION AS IT IS KNOWN.

METRA BNSF TRAIN #1263 SCHEDULED TO DEPART UNION STATION AT 5:13PM TO ARRIVE AT BROOKFIELD AT 5:44PM HAS BEEN CANCELLED THIS EVENING. TRAIN #1273 SCHEDULED TO DEPART UNION STATION AT 5:36PM TO ARRIVE AURORA AT 6:55PM WILL ACCOMMODATE PASSENGERS WHO WOULD NORMALLY BOARD TRAIN #1263.

METRA UNION PACIFIC WEST
METRA UNION PACIFIC WEST TRAIN #54 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE OGILVIE TRANSPORTATION CENTER AT 4:47PM IS OPERATING 15-25 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE DUE TO LATE ARRIVAL OF EQUIPMENT, STEMMING FROM EARLIER TRACK CONSTRUCTION.

[CNW5022-A519]

Milw District North Line train 2219 failed at Grayslake, engine number 416 went belly up Train 2141 made all stops to Fox Lake inculding North Glenview.
Train 2147 is making all stops to Grayslake to cover 2145.
As of 703 416 and its train are at this moment sitting at Rondout waiting on a rescue ship.
No words on other trains.

[metraRI]

Found some pics of that little snafu:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastoja/3450818907/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastoja/3450797277/

[tobuadantoq]

METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTH
METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTH TRAINS #351 AND 355 SCHEDULED TO DEPART OGILVIE TRANSPORTATION CENTER AT 5:43PM AND 6:00PM TO ARRIVE WAUKEGAN AT 7:01PM AND 7:22PM HAVE BEEN CANCELLED THIS EVENING.

METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTH
METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTH TRAINS TRAVELING INBOUND TO OGILVIE TRANSPORTATION CENTER ARE MOVING PAST THE ACCIDENT SITE AT WALKING SPEED. METRA WILL UPDATE THIS SITE ONCE OUTBOUND TRAINS TRAVELING TO WAUKEGAN AND KENOSHA ARE ON THE MOVE.

UPDATED 6:35PM
METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTH TRAIN #348 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE OGILVIE TRANSPORTATION CENTER AT 5:31PM HAS BEEN CANCELLED THIS EVENING AT EVANSTON CENTRAL STREET. PASSENGERS ARE UTILIZING CTA SERVICES.

UPDATED 6:44PM
METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTH OUTBOUND TRAINS REMAIN STOPPED NEAR THE ROGERS PARK STATION DUE TO AN EARLIER PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT. WE WILL PROVIDE UPDATED TRAVEL INFORMATION ONCE THESE TRAINS ARE ON THE MOVE.

UPDATED 7:00PM
METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTH TRAIN #339 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE WAUKEGAN AT 5:45PM WILL DROP OFF PASSENGERS AT ROGERS PARK, AND TRAIN #341 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE KENOSHA AT 6:27PM WILL PICK UP PASSENGERS TO MAKE ALL STOPS INTO KENOSHA.

METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTH
METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTH TRAIN #339 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE WAUKEGAN AT 5:45PM IS STOPPED JUST OUTSIDE OF THE ROGERS PARK STATION DUE TO A PEDESTRIAN INCIDENT. WE WILL PROVIDE UPDATED TRAVEL INFORMATION AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

UPDATED 5:13 P.M.
ALL METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTH LINE TRAINS WILL BE STOPPED IN THE VICINITY OF ROGERS PARK DUE TO A PEDESTRIAN INCIDENT. ESTIMATED TIME OF DELAY IS UNKNOWN, WE WILL FURTHER UPDATE INFORMATION AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

UPDATED 5:22PM
CTA RED AND PURPLE LINE TRAINS TRAVELING BETWEEN WILMETTE AND CHICAGO IN BOTH DIRECTIONS WILL HONOR METRA TICKETS THIS EVENING.

UPDATED 5:38PM
PACE WILL HOLD FEEDER AND ROUTE CONNECTOR BUS SERVICE FOR AN HOUR FOR THOSE TRAVELING FROM WINNETKA TO WINTHROP HARBOR.

UPDATED 7:15PM
METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTH OUTBOUND TRAINS TRAVELING TO WAUKEGAN AND KENOSHA ARE NOW ON THE MOVE AND ARE OPERATING UP TO 110 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE.

[AMTK347]

Metra Milwaukee District North Line Train Delays
Milwaukee District North Line Trains #2102, scheduled to arrive Chicago Union Station at 6:19 a.m., and Train #2104, due to arrive Chicago at 6:51 a.m. are currently stopped in the vicinity of Libertyville due to a large section of concrete which fell from the 294 overpass.

We have just received authority from the inspectors that we may resume are efforts to remove the obstruction and crews are working to do so. We will update information as soon as the trains begin to move.

Train #2101, due to depart Chicago at 6:33 a.m. will not operate today.

Train #2103, scheduled to depart Chicago at 7:01 a.m. will be delayed for undetermined amount of time.

Update at 6:48 a.m.

The concrete has been removed and the operation will resume in approximately 10 to 15 minutes. We will update information as soon as it becomes available.

[tobuadantoq]

Metra Milwaukee District North Line Train Delays
Update at 8:45 a.m.

Train #2118, scheduled to arrive Chicago at 8:29 a.m. and Train #2120, scheduled to arrive Chicago at 8:36 a.m., are operating approximately 30 to 35 minutes behind schedule due to earlier delays.

Train #2126, scheduled to depart Deerfield at 8:26 a.m., has not departed due to late arrival of equipment. The estimated time of delay is unknown. We will update information as soon as it becomes available.

We anticipate trains traveling to Chicago may incur delays of approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Train #2103, scheduled to depart Chicago at 7:01 a.m. and arrive Fox Lake at 8:36 a.m., is on the move and operating approximately 30 to 40 minutes behind schedule.

Train #2105, scheduled to depart Chicago at 7:24 a.m. and arrive Deerfield at 8:14 a.m., is on the move and operating approximately 30 to 35 minutes behind schedule.

Train #2107, scheduled to depart Chicago at 7:40 a.m. and arrive Grayslake at 8:58 a.m., is on the move and operating approximately 35 minutes behind schedule.

Train #2109, scheduled to depart Chicago at 8:35 a.m. and arrive Fox Lake at 10:06 a.m., has not departed due to late arrival of equipment from earlier delays. We will update information as soon as it becomes available.

Update at 8:39 a.m.

Train #2118, scheduled to arrive Chicago at 8:29 a.m. and Train #2120, scheduled to arrive Chicago at 8:36 a.m., are operating approximately 30 to 35 minutes behind schedule due to earlier delays.

Train #2126, scheduled to depart Deerfield at 8:26 a.m., has not departed due to late arrival of equipment. The estimated time of delay is unknown. We will update information as soon as it becomes available.

We anticipate trains traveling to Chicago may incur delays of approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Train #2103, scheduled to depart Chicago at 7:01 a.m. and arrive Fox Lake at 8:36 a.m., is on the move and operating approximately 30 to 40 minutes behind schedule.

Train #2105, scheduled to depart Chicago at 7:24 a.m. and arrive Deerfield at 8:14 a.m., is on the move and operating approximately 30 to 35 minutes behind schedule.

Train #2107, scheduled to depart Chicago at 7:40 a.m. and arrive Grayslake at 8:58 a.m., is on the move and operating approximately 35 minutes behind schedule.

Update at 8:25 a.m.

The concrete has been removed and the operation has resumed with trains #2110 and #2112, may incur delays of up to 45 to 50 minutes. Beginning with train #2114 we anticipate delays of approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Update at 7:58 a.m.

The concrete has been removed and the operation has resumed with train #2106 will make all scheduled stops until the train is completely full at which time the train will express to Chicago. Trains #2106 through #2112, may incur delays of up to one hour and ten minutes. Beginning with train #2114 we anticipate delays of approximately 30 to 40 minutes. We will update information as soon as it becomes available.

Train #2107, scheduled to depart Chicago at 7:40 a.m. will be delayed for undetermined amount of time.

Train #2103, scheduled to depart Chicago at 7:01 a.m. and arrive Fox Lake at 8:36 a.m., is on the move and operating approximately 30 to 40 minutes behind schedule.

Train #2105, scheduled to depart Chicago at 7:24 a.m. and arrive Deerfield at 8:14 a.m., is now on the move and operating approximately 30 to 35 minutes behind schedule.

Metra Milwaukee District North Line Train Delays
Milwaukee District North Line Trains #2102, scheduled to arrive Chicago Union Station at 6:19 a.m., and Train #2104, due to arrive Chicago at 6:51 a.m. are currently stopped in the vicinity of Libertyville due to a large section of concrete which fell from the 294 overpass.

We have just received authority from the inspectors that we may resume are efforts to remove the obstruction and crews are working to do so. We will update information as soon as the trains begin to move.

Train #2101, due to depart Chicago at 6:33 a.m. will not operate today.

Train #2103, scheduled to depart Chicago at 7:01 a.m. will be delayed for undetermined amount of time.

Update at 6:48 a.m.

The concrete has been removed and the operation will resume in approximately 10 to 15 minutes. We will update information as soon as it becomes available.

[metraRI]

SOUTHWEST SERVICE TRAIN DELAY
SOUTHWEST SERVICE TRAIN #815 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE ORLAND PARK 179TH ST. AT 1:39 P.M. IS STOPPED NEAR FOREST HILL DUE TO SWITCH PROBLEMS. ESTIMATED TIME OF DELAY IS UNKNOWN, WE WILL FURTHER UPDATE INFORMATION AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

UPDATED 1:20 P.M.
SOUTHWEST SERVICE TRAIN #815 IS ON THE MOVE OPERATING 18 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE DUE TO EARLIER SWITCH PROBLEMS.

The people in the office must not have gotten the memo stating that #815 continues to Manhattan.

[tobuadantoq]

METRA BNSF
METRA BNSF TRAIN #1265 SCHEDULED TO DEPART UNION STATION AT 5:17PM TO ARRIVE DOWNERS GROVE FAIRVIEW AT 5:53PM HAS BEEN CANCELLED THIS EVENING DUE TO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. TRAIN #1269 SCHEDULED TO DEPART UNION STATION 5:26PM TO ARRIVE AURORA AT 6:20PM WILL ACCOMMODATE PASSENGERS FROM TRAIN #1265 WITH ADDITIONAL STOPS INTO AURORA.

[metraRI]

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

SOUTHWEST SERVICE TRAIN DELAY
SOUTHWEST SERVICE TRAIN #815 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE ORLAND PARK 179TH ST. AT 1:39 P.M. IS OPERATING 17 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE DUE TO WAITING ON OTHER TRAINS AND TRACK WORK.

Once again.... I wonder if this is a hint at how well communication works at Metra.

[tobuadantoq]

METRA BURLINGTON NORTHERN
METRA BURLINGTON NORTHERN TRAIN #1283 SCHEDULED TO DEPART UNION STATION AT 6:12PM TO ARRIVE ROUTE 59 AT 6:52PM HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

METRA BURLINGTON NORTHERN TRAIN #1373 SCHEDULED TO DEPART UNION STATION AT 6:16PM TO ARRIVE AURORA AT 7:06PM WILL ACCOMMODATE PASSENGERS FROM TRAIN #1283.

METRA BURLINGTON NORTHERN
METRA BURLINGTON NORTHERN TRAIN #1279 SCHEDULED TO DEPART UNION STATION AT 5:49PM TO ARRIVE AURORA AT 6:39PM HAS BEEN CANCELLED THIS EVENING. TRAIN #1281 SCHEDULED TO DEPART UNION STATION AT 6:00PM TO ARRIVE AURORA 7:17PM WILL ACCOMMODATE PASSENGERS FROM TRAIN #1279.

METRA/BURLINGTON NORTHERN DELAYS HIGHLANDS TO HINSDALE
APPROXIMATELY 2:20PM, THE BURLINGTON NORTHERN ADVISED METRA THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING SIGNAL PROBLEMS BETWEEN HIGHLAND AND WEST HINSDALE, WHICH IS AFFECTING TRAINS OPERATING TO AURORA AND CHICAGO. THE BURLINGTON NORTHERN IS NOT CERTAIN AT THIS TIME AS TO WHEN THE SIGNALING PROBLEM WILL BE CORRECTED. TRAINS OPERATING THROUGH HIGHLAND AND HINSDALE AT THE PRESENT TIME ARE EXPERIENCING 15-20 MINUTE DELAYS.

UPDATED 4:10PM
METRA BURLINGTON NORTHERN INBOUND TRAINS TO UNION STATION AND OUTBOUND TRAINS TRAVELING TO AURORA WILL BE OPERATING UP TO 20 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE DUE TO SIGNAL PROBLEMS BETWEEN WEST HINDALE AND HIGHLANDS.

UPDATED 5:10PM
METRA BURLINGTON NORTHERN TRAIN #1274 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE UNION STATION AT 5:23PM WILL EXPRESS TO BROOKFIELD FROM DOWNERS GROVE. PASSENGERS TRAVELING TO INTERMEDIATE STATIONS (WESTMONT, CLARENDON HILLS, HINSDALE, WESTERN SPRINGS, LAGRANGE STONE, LAGRANGE, CONGRESS PARK) WILL BE PICKED UP BY TRAIN #1276 WHO DEPARTS AURORA AT 4:25PM TO ARRIVE CHICAGO AT 5:27PM.

METRA BURLINGTON NORTHERN TRAIN #1263 SCHEDULED TO DEPART CHICAGO AT 5:13PM AND ARRIVE BROOKFIELD AT 5:44PM HAS BEEN CANCELLED. PASSENGERS WILL BE ACCOMMODATED BY TRAIN #1273 SCHEDULED TO DEPART UNION STATION AT 5:36PM TO ARRIVE AURORA AT 6:55PM. THIS TRAIN WILL BE MAKING AN ADDITIONAL STOP AT HALSTED.

UPDATED 6:30PM
METRA BURLINGTON NORTHERN INBOUND TRAINS TO UNION STATION AND OUTBOUND TRAINS TRAVELING TO AURORA WILL BE OPERATING UP TO 20 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE DUE TO SIGNAL PROBLEMS BETWEEN WEST HINDALE AND HIGHLANDS.

[metraRI]

I'm usually not one to post delays from Metra's site... but

ROCK ISLAND TRAIN DELAY
ROCK ISLAND TRAIN #528 SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE LASALLE ST. STATION AT 8:45 P.M. IS OPERATING 17 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE DUE TO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.

5th train on RID to be delayed due to a mechanical problem today alone... this most recent one is caused by a F40PHM-2.

[MetraBNSF]

Well, I'm not the guy that writes the "BNSF Follies" column, but the delays and cancellations on the afternoon of 6/3/09 caused by ONE train is something really worth looking at. The circumstances behind this afternoon's service disruption should've only affected one, maybe three trains at most. But instead it fouls almost the entire back half of the evening rush.

Inbound deadhead train 1282 (turns from outbound train 1249) developed a problem with its power (METX197) as it was pulling into the Downers Grove-Fairview Ave station. While railfanning at Fairview Ave, initially it didn't appear that there was a problem until outbound train 1267 came to a stop on the center track just east of Fairview Ave. METX197 on 1282 was completely dead. The plan was to attatch inbound deadhead train 1284 (turns from outbound train 1255 at Fairview) and push 1282 back into Chicago. So the plan is followed through, but with one major problem. When train 1284 was attached to the disabled train 1282, part of the 7 car set of train 1284 was sitting in the interlocking, fouling main tracks 2 and 3. This explains why outbound trains 1267, 1269, and 1277 were all stacked up, unable to move with main track 2 partially occupied by the equipment train.

As a result of one train's engine going belly up, the rest of the rush hour saw delays for both inbound and outbound trains between 25-60 minutes and the cancellation of outbound trains 1283 (turned from the disabled train 1282) and 1289 (turned from inbound train 1288, which was stopped at Downers Grove Main Street).

This is what I don't understand which would have minimized the impact of the delays. At the completion of 1249's run at Fairview Ave, it is routed through the interlocking from track 1-3, then reverses to the Fairview Ave station where the engineer changes ends. 1255 also ends its run at Fairview, however this train was routed from track 1-2 through the interlocking, then reverses back east through the interlocking from track 2-3. If only 1255 had been routed in the same manner as 1249, the center track would have been kept free for westbound traffic to flow continuously. If this was followed, outbound runs wouldn't have really been affected.

I wonder what the dispatchers were thinking when it came to routing train 1255/1284 through the Fairview interlocking? Then we wouldn't have had 3,000 coming home to a cold dinner.

Center: Outbound BNSF train 1267 stopped due to red signals at Fairview interlocking. Right: Inbound BNSF equipment train 1282 with METX197 for power, which has gone belly up. Look closely you can see the lead edge of inbound equipment train 1284 with METX8593 leading.


Inbound equipment train 1284 (with METX8593 leading) is attached to train 1282's power (METX197)


This is why trains 1267, 1269, and 1277 were stopped one right behind one another. Train 1284 was partially occupying track 2 within the interlocking:


Close up of METX8593 attached to METX197:


Outbound train 1267 slowly moving forward, then stops:


On a side note, historically METX197 has spent a lot of time double headed. I wouldn't be surprised if its paired with another engine once again.

[doepack]

This is what I don't understand which would have minimized the impact of the delays. At the completion of 1249's run at Fairview Ave, it is routed through the interlocking from track 1-3, then reverses to the Fairview Ave station where the engineer changes ends. 1255 also ends its run at Fairview, however this train was routed from track 1-2 through the interlocking, then reverses back east through the interlocking from track 2-3. If only 1255 had been routed in the same manner as 1249, the center track would have been kept free for westbound traffic to flow continuously. If this was followed, outbound runs wouldn't have really been affected.

I wonder what the dispatchers were thinking when it came to routing train 1255/1284 through the Fairview interlocking? Then we wouldn't have had 3,000 coming home to a cold dinner.

Is 1255/1284 normally routed that way through the plant? If so, then this may have been a habitual move by the dispatcher without fully realizing the consequences. After looking at the schedule, It would seem to me that upon 1255's arrival at Fairview, the dispatcher in Ft. Worth would have about 15 minutes to use the center track to flip it back east as 1284. (It could be closer to 20 minutes, but anything longer than 15 could likely result in 1267 not getting anything better than an approach signal). Assuming 1255 is on time, that should be plenty of time to make the move without delaying 1267, but I guess the dispatcher either didn't realize that 1282 had just barely cleared the plant before 197 gave out, or perhaps the crew on either train hadn't relayed the information, so there may have been a disconnect somewhere.

As a result of one train's engine going belly up, the rest of the rush hour saw delays for both inbound and outbound trains between 25-60 minutes and the cancellation of outbound trains 1283 (turned from the disabled train 1282) and 1289 (turned from inbound train 1288, which was stopped at Downers Grove Main Street).

What did they do with 1288, flip it back to Aurora from there? How come it couldn't have just followed the combined train after it left?

You're right, this was pretty ugly...