Green and Orange Line "L" trains were back on schedule just in time for Wednesday morning's rush following an Orange Line derailment Tuesday afternoon in the South Loop. Normal service resumed on the Green Line at 3:45 a.m. and normal service resumed on the Orange Line at 3:55 a.m., according to CTA spokeswoman Kim Myles.
The cause of the derailment is still under investigation, Myles said.
A still-and-box alarm and EMS Plan 1 were called at 22 E. Roosevelt Road about 11:42 a.m. Tuesday for the CTA Orange Line train derailment on the elevated tracks, according to fire media affairs Chief Kevin MacGregor. An EMS Plan 1 automatically sends to the scene five ambulances, two fire trucks, two engines, a battalion chief and an EMS field officer.
The EMS Plan 1 was upgraded to an EMS Plan 2 as a precautionary measure. The four-car train was completely evacuated using fire department equipment and available stairs, MacGregor said. Eight people, including two children, suffered injuries and were taken to Mercy Hospital and Medical Center and Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition, he said.
The alarm and EMS Plans were secured about 1:25 p.m., according to fire media affairs assistant director Eve Rodriguez.
The train behind the derailed train was stopped after the accident and passengers on the second train were told there were "technical difficulties" causing short delays, according to passenger and Calumet District police Lt. Timothy Bickham.
The power was turned off and about 10 minutes later, a second message informed passengers there was a problem ahead, Bickham said. Passengers on the train, which was stopped for more than an hour, remained calm and did not panic. Eventually, the train backed up to the Halsted station and passengers were put on shuttle buses, Bickham said.
CTA crews had worked through the night Tuesday to repair a stretch of the third rail and replace rail ties at the elevated structure at 14th and State Street, which were damaged after the last two cars of a four-car northbound Orange Line train derailed at the location, south of the Roosevelt Line station, according to a CTA release. Click here for service updates from the CTA.
Copyright 2006, Chicago Sun-Times Inc.
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