My Brother was waiting to depart Chicago when this happened and texted me that Amrak Sucks because he had to get on a motorcoach from Chicago to Milwaukee. The derailment happened on the South platform but apparently also blocked movement of equipment from Amtraks servicing area South of Union Station back to the North platform and they told him while he was waiting they could not pull the trainset up to the platform because the tracks were blocked. I looked at the news footage and to me it looks like the rear truck of the Siemens Locomotive running in reverse into the South Concourse split a switch somehow.
It's either that or while my Brother was texting he inadvertently punched the DTMF codes and flipped the switch accidently............just kidding I know they are centrally controlled switches (before I get 10 seperate corrective posts).
https://youtu.be/WQBa0IhIXjI
If you look carefully at the derailed train you can see the usual 1 guy working while three others watch him.....ha-ha.
Apparently the Empire Builder derailed in Union Station on Sunday in the North Concourse while it was departing. So that makes two Amtrak trains that derailed in one weekend within Union Station.
I thought that was weird because the first photo I saw was of a mid train superliner straddling two tracks near the end of the platforms, not a charger.
I presume this will be added to the listing of derailments as was the recent terrible one in Ohio. If so, then there needs to be distinguishment when pundits use the overall number when citing derailments. These small incidents aren't significant in evaluating what needs to be done.
diningcar These small incidents aren't significant in evaluating what needs to be done.
blue streak 1It is significant that the Union Statin i having yard track derailents. Is this a repeat of the NYP problems a few years ago?
I am far from a railroad expert in this area but I suspect it is worn switch points because it seems to happen at crossover switches. So I suspect the wheels are splitting a switch for some reason.
Amtrak and METRA are continually flghting over what amount METRA should pay Amtrak for maintenance and running of Union Station so it would not surprise me if this was related in someway to that argument and Amtrak has not maintained the track properly for the thousands of trains METRA sends over it each week.
CMStPnP Amtrak and METRA are continually flghting over what amount METRA should pay Amtrak for maintenance and running of Union Station so it would not surprise me if this was related in someway to that argument and Amtrak has not maintained the track properly for the thousands of trains METRA sends over it each week.
blue streak 1Good point Amtrak only has 16 - 18 trains a day on north side. METRA ???
Now or soon to be 52 trains a day on Milwaukee District North
Now or soon to be 52 trains a day on Milwaukee District West
So approximately 104 Metra trains a day from the North Concourse. Remember that is just the scheduled movements not necessarily the movements to and from the METRA yard or the locomotive movements to refuel.
Correct. Amtrak currently has a maximum of 18 trains on MD North, none yet on MD West.
Metra has 108 on the north concourse.
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