(CHICAGO) A fire erupted Tuesday at a railroad facility in west suburban Melrose Park and the fallout will cause delays on Metra Union Pacific/West trains through Thursday.
The fire, caused by an electrical shortage in a piece of Union Pacific Railroad equipment, happened at a facility near 25th Avenue in Melrose Park, and caused massive delays for UP/West riders Tuesday morning.
And Metra announced Tuesday afternoon that repairs will delay trains until at least the Thursday afternoon rush hour. The UP facility is described as a “nerve center controlling all the trains in the area.”
All trains on the UP lines in the area, including 60 Metra UP/West lines and freight traffic will have to stop, get permission to proceed and then travel at restricted speeds through a two-mile area until repairs are complete, Metra said.
Most inbound and outbound trains should depart on time, but may incur delays of up to 30 minutes until the Thursday afternoon rush hour. Departures later in the rush hour could be delayed because of earlier trains.
The fire also has led to the following trains will be canceled Tuesday evening:
- No. 43, departing Ogilvie at 4:17 p.m.;
- No. 59, departing Ogilvie at 5:46 p.m.;
- and No. 60, arriving at Ogilvie at 6:54 pm.
Also Thursday evening, the No. 41, departing Ogilvie at 4:11 p.m., and the No. 57, departing Ogilvie at 5:42 p.m. will make extra stops at Melrose Park and Maywood, Metra said. The No. 45, departing Ogilvie at 4:35 p.m., and the No. 61, departing Ogilvie at 6:10 p.m., will make extra stops at Bellwood and Berkeley.
