South Shore Line trains are being plagued with the same problem faced last autumn – falling leaves are making rails slippery and causing delays.
President and General Michael Noland sent an email to riders Friday afternoon to notify them of the problem.
Last fall, riders saw “extensive delays” from wheels slipping on the rails, causing flat spots on wheels. “If these flat spots reach a certain threshold, for safety reasons, we take the equipment out of service. If this occurs en route, our passengers can experience lengthy service disruptions,” Noland said.
“After discussions with other Midwest and northern passenger rail carriers, this year we have implemented a variety of strategies to minimize disruption. This includes temporary train acceleration and braking strategies, additional on-track equipment to remove leaf sediment from the rail, positioning of additional workforce and equipment to deal with issues as they arise, and, at certain locations, slower speed orders,” he said.
Last year, the South Shore Line scrambled to find ways to diagnose and address the problem. Double-decker cars are heavier than the older models and don’t slip as much.
“What happens is when the leaves die, they change their structure, their DNA,” Noland said last fall. “They hit the rail, and it’s like a slurry.”
So last year the railroad borrowed a piece of equipment from Metra that is essentially a wire brush towed behind a truck.
The railroad also changed its braking methods, switching from dynamic brakes to air brakes, and rails were pressure-washed.
The railroad is exploring emerging technologies, including laser systems and high-pressure water treatments, Noland said.
“This year, we purchased equipment to sweep/brush the rail to help remove leaf sediment that is now in service on a daily basis. We are committed to investing in long-term solutions to prevent future disruptions,” he said.
“We want to assure you that we are working to address wheel slips while maintaining schedules to the maximum extent possible. Our teams are operating around the clock to inspect, repair and return cars to service,” Noland said.
Riders can use the South Shore Line app’s train tracker feature to track delays, as well as sign up for service alerts via text or email, and check for service updates on the website.
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
