Metra commuter train service cuts caused by a train derailment in Chicago Ridge early Wednesday morning were expected to continue into Thursday.
The derailment involved 10 rail cars and occurred about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, Freight transportation supplier CSX said in a statement. The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.
Chicago Ridge police and a Metra spokesperson said the derailment between Ridgeland Avenue and Central Avenue closed several major roadways and disrupted Metra train service. Nobody was injured in the derailment and the train did not carry hazardous materials, police said.
Chicago Ridge Mayor John “Jack” Lind thanked first responders as well as CSX and Metra for working diligently to clear the train tracks.
“Our traffic situation will be an issue for maybe a couple days, but we have rerouted traffic and it’s been working fairly well so far,” Lind said Wednesday. “Overall, it’s sad it happened, but we’re working hard and we’ll get it fixed.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, Ridgeland Avenue remained closed between Southwest Highway and Washington Street, and Central Avenue remained closed at the railroad tracks between 107th Street and Pleasant, police said.
Metra suspended all inbound and outbound trail on its Southwest Service line after the derailment, which damaged tracks Metra uses. The Southwest line extends from Union Station to Manhattan, including regular stops in Oak Lawn, Chicago Ridge, Worth, Palos Heights, Palos Park, Orland Park and New Lenox. Metra was asking customers to seek alternatives.
A Metra spokesperson said the agency was monitoring the scene and reported damage to Metra train tracks and CSX tracks and signaling systems.
Oak Lawn police, who assisted with traffic control in the area, confirmed damage to the railroad crossing between 107th and Central Avenue. Police said the crossing would be closed for at least one day.
“Motorists should expect traffic congestion and should use alternate routes,” Oak Lawn police said. “We are asking people to avoid the area to allow first responders and railroad crews to work safely and efficiently.”
Lind said Chicago Ridge alerted local schools and hospitals of the derailment to ensure buses and ambulances could get around the affected area.
High School District 218 in a statement said it notified families at about 6 a.m. Wednesday of the train derailment and advised them to provide students extra time to get to school. District 218 includes Richards High School in Oak Lawn.
Several school buses bringing students to Richards, located east of the 107th Street and Central Avenue intersection, were delayed Wednesday due to the train derailment. The school had already scheduled a late start, at 9:30 a.m., but students arriving late due to bus delays were given passes.
District 218 said it’s working closely with Oak Lawn police “to coordinate traffic and ensure student safety.”
“We recognize that this incident has disrupted the school day, and we are responding with flexibility while the situation remains beyond our control,” the district said. “We encourage community members to use alternate routes, such as 111th Street and 103rd Street, when traveling to Richards High School.”
CSX said its crews at the scene and are “working as safely and quickly as possible to clean up the impacted site and to restore passenger and freight service in the area.” The company said it will continue to provide updates.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
