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Discussion related to commuter rail and rapid transit operations in the Chicago area including the South Shore Line, Metra Rail, and Chicago Transit Authority.

Moderators: metraRI, JamesT4

 #1126454  by justalurker66
 
ohioriverrailway wrote:If it wasn't for bad luck the South Shore wouldn't have any.
This has not been a good year for NICTD - especially with problems caused by others.
South Shore plans to restore regular service beginning with westbound Train 610 departing Michigan City at 7:10 pm making all regular stops and arriving in Chicago at 8:52 pm. Train 613 will be the first eastbound train departing Millennium Station at 11:15 pm; making all stops including Hudson Lake and South Bend.
Westbound Train 510 will depart South Bend at 10:16 pm ET, arriving in Chicago at 11:43 pm CT
Eastbound Train 601 is expected to depart Millennium Station on time.
The South Shore will resume a full weekend schedule on Sunday, December 30.
On Saturday all South Shore train service was temporarily suspended when a semi-truck loaded with steel rollers dumped its load off the Indiana Toll Road and on to the South Shore causing significant track and overhead wire damage. The accident did not involve any passenger trains but caused a service suspension until emergency repairs could be made.
NICTD apologizes for the inconvenience caused by today's service disruption.
 #1137923  by justalurker66
 
MED was messed up this morning ... here is their side of the story:
"Inbound Train #736 and #756 - Making a Reverse Move to 115th
Inbound Train #736, scheduled to arrive Chicago at 8:15 a.m., will reverse to 115th and switch tracks due to a stopped South Shore train at 70th Avenue. The duration of this delay is expected to be 35 to 50 minutes. Inbound Train #756, scheduled to arrive Chicago at 8:10 a.m., will reverse to 115th and switch tracks due to a stopped South Shore train at 70th Avenue. The duration of this delay is expected to be 35 to 50 minutes. Metra will update this site as information becomes available."

And what did NICTD have to say?
"Train 12 scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 8:08 a.m. is running approximately 65 minutes late because of a reported operating practices error on the Metra Electric near 67th St."

Other MED notices from Metra ...
Train #506, scheduled to arrive Chicago at 8:33 a.m., is operating 15 to 18 minutes behind schedule due to emergency track repairs near 115th.
Train #736, scheduled to arrive Chicago at 8:15 a.m., is operating 40 to 43 minutes behind schedule due to meeting a stopped South Shore train enroute.
Inbound Train #756, scheduled to arrive Chicago at 8:10 a.m., is operating 50 to 53 minutes behind schedule due to meeting a stopped South Shore train enroute.

Other NICTD notices ...
Train 12 scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 8:08 a.m. arrived 71 minutes late because of a reported operating practices error on the Metra Electric near 67th St
Westbound South Shore Train 14 scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 10:28 AM is running 15-20 minutes late due to weather related mechanical problems. Passenger should be at departing stations at scheduled departure time in case delays are shorter than expected.

So ... did Metra misroute a train?
 #1138098  by AMTKHawkeye
 
And what did NICTD have to say?
"Train 12 scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 8:08 a.m. is running approximately 65 minutes late because of a reported operating practices error on the Metra Electric near 67th St."
So ... did Metra misroute a train?
That language makes it sound like the situation likely involved an operating rules violation by either a train crew or possibly a dispatcher. I have no knowledge of this particular occurrence, though, so correction is of course welcomed.
 #1193874  by lstone19
 
This evening, Metra was having problems on the SWS. According to their website, due to a freight derailment at 41st St., trains were taking an "alternate route". Anyone have any idea what this alternate route was? I can't really see anything that doesn't involve lots of back up moves and pilots from the freight roads.
 #1193876  by steve4031
 
I saw metra bilevels on the Norfolk southern bridge that crosses the Dan Ryan today just west of the englewood junction. Wonder if that was part of the sws disruption. This was about 3:30 pm.
 #1193895  by lstone19
 
steve4031 wrote:I saw metra bilevels on the Norfolk southern bridge that crosses the Dan Ryan today just west of the englewood junction. Wonder if that was part of the sws disruption. This was about 3:30 pm.
Wow. Bet it was and it suggests a detour of SCAL, RI District, and then NS to 47th St. before heading off on the C&WI and Wabash.
 #1194036  by AMTKHawkeye
 
I don't know the exact particulars of how this was accomplished, but I do know that the SWS detours yesterday involved NS pilots taking the trains through the 55th Street Yard.
 #1194421  by justalurker66
 
NICTD's turn for delays ...

NICTD website:
We're expecting EB rush hour trains to depart Chicago on time but may experience delays en route. All trains are operating on Track 1 from Indiana/Illinois State Line to Gary.
Due to significant wire damage east of East Chicago this afternoon train delays are as follows:
Extra Eastbound Train departed East Chicago Station at 2:39pm
WB Train 116 has been cancelled at East Chicago
WB Train 216 departed Gary Metro Station at 3:12 pm
WB Train 18 departed Carroll Ave. approximately 1 ½ hours late
WB Train 118 departed Carroll Ave. 10-15 min behind schedule
Updated at: 06/17/2013 03:13 PM
Eastbound South Shore Train 109 is running 45-60 minutes late due to overhead wire damage.
Updated at: 06/17/2013 03:51 PM

News Article:
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake ... 2d358.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 #1194520  by twropr
 
Did the westbound SWS trains get on the SCAL at Union Ave., like the Amtrak trains heading towards the IC do? Once they were on the RI District, how did they get to the NS and once on the NS how did they get to the C&WI/Metra?

Andy
lstone19 wrote:
steve4031 wrote:I saw metra bilevels on the Norfolk southern bridge that crosses the Dan Ryan today just west of the englewood junction. Wonder if that was part of the sws disruption. This was about 3:30 pm.
Wow. Bet it was and it suggests a detour of SCAL, RI District, and then NS to 47th St. before heading off on the C&WI and Wabash.
 #1194685  by doepack
 
Per Metra's website...

Due to track work between Robbins and Tinley Park 80th Avenue, late night bussing will be required on the Rock Island District on Friday June 21 and Saturday June 22 and the following weekend on Friday June 28 and Saturday June 29.

Bussing Friday June 21 and Saturday June 22
Friday June 21 - Train #531 (departing Chicago at 11:15 p.m.) and train #533 (departing Chicago at 12:30 a.m.) will be bussed from Oak Forest to Tinley Park/80th, where waiting equipment will make all scheduled stops to Joliet.

Saturday June 22 - Train #231 (departing Chicago at 11:15 p.m.) and train #233 (departing Chicago at 12:30 a.m.) will be bussed from Oak Forest to Tinley Park/80th, where waiting equipment will make all scheduled stops to Joliet.

Bussing Friday June 28 and Saturday June 29
Friday June 28 - Train #531 (departing Chicago at 11:15 p.m.) and train #533 (departing Chicago at 12:30 a.m.) will be bussed from Robbins to Oak Forest, where waiting equipment will make all scheduled stops to Joliet.

Saturday June 29 - Train #231 (departing Chicago at 11:15 p.m.) and train #233 (departing Chicago at 12:30 a.m.) will be bussed from Robbins to Oak Forest, where waiting equipment will make all scheduled stops to Joliet.


Anybody know what's going on; i.e., the nature of the work being done here?
 #1194771  by metraRI
 
During each weekend, the tracks within the station limits at Oak Park Ave. and Midlothian are being under cut. Both tracks will be taken out of service during construction, which is the reason for the bustitution. Upon arrival at the busing location, the equipment for #531 will deadhead back to Blue Island yard. This will be repeated for #533's equipment which will tie onto #531. Once the work has been completed the following morning, the equipment will deadhead to Joliet and be put away at their usual location. The equipment from #529 will be used for the remaining legs of #531 & #533, deadheading to 80th Ave each time.
 #1195274  by metraRI
 
Plans for the constriction has changed slightly... #531 will no longer be bused, making it through the work zone before track gets taken out of service. Everything else will remain the same for #533. The equipment from #531 will now be used for the remainder of #533's trip.
 #1195385  by Amtrak7
 
NICTD busing east of Carroll Ave since yesterday due to garbage truck damaging bridge west of Hudson Lake.
 #1195655  by justalurker66
 
Amtrak7 wrote:NICTD busing east of Carroll Ave since yesterday due to garbage truck damaging bridge west of Hudson Lake.
The repair was expected to take 7-10 days. It looks like three was enough:
South Shore will resume ALL regularly scheduled train service between South Bend and Michigan City on Monday morning, June 24. The first westbound train will be Train 12 departing South Bend at 6:32 a.m. ET. The first eastbound train from Chicago will be Train 7, arriving South Bend at 12:08 p.m. ET

The South Shore continues to temporarily bus passengers between South Bend and Michigan City through the balance of today. Busing began on Thursday morning when a garbage truck struck and damaged a bridge in Hudson Lake. NICTD crews and personnel from Tonn & Blank of Michigan City were able to acquire replacement steel and make all necessary repairs in order to restore train service ahead of schedule.

NICTD would like to thank our passengers for their cooperation, patience and understanding during this unexpected suspension of train service.

Updated at: 06/23/2013 04:22 PM
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