Two stalled trains, likely halted in part because of Sunday's winter weather, caused major delays for CTA Green Line passengers.
"We basically had two defective trains with electrical issues on the Cottage Grove branch and the Ashland branch," CTA spokeswoman Lambrini Lukidis said.
About 4:45 p.m., officials learned southbound trains had stalled at both the 63rd/Ashland and 55th/Garfield stations, halting both branches of the Green Line, she said.
Southbound service was stopped for roughly and hour and fifteen minutes while crews cleared the trains, Lukidis said. Some passengers were put onto shuttle buses, while other trains turned around and headed back north.
Service has nearly returned to normal as of about 7 p.m.
The trains stalled because of electrical problems, likely related to the weather, Lukidis said.
The entire CTA system started preparing for the incoming winter weather early Sunday, preemptively deploying sleet scrapers on every rail line and activating devices that heat the electrified third rail.
The agency's trains also ran on a weekday schedule rather than a Sunday schedule, in hopes the additional trains would prevent any ice buildup, Lukidis said.
Officials also made the decision to replace all 60-foot articulated buses -- which run mostly on Lake Shore Drive and downtown -- with 40-foot, non-accordion buses, which stop better on icy conditions.
Field supervisors are also keeping watch on Lake Shore Drive as the storm continues Sunday evening, Lukidis said.
Thursday, May 16 2013 9:49 PM EDT2013-05-17 01:49:53 GMT
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Monday, May 20 2013 8:33 PM EDT2013-05-21 00:33:23 GMT
A Merrillville police officer shot a man Monday afternoon when the two got into a fight in the parking lot of the Merrillville Planned Parenthood office.
A Merrillville police officer shot a man Monday afternoon when the two got into a fight in the parking lot of the Merrillville Planned Parenthood office.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:52 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:52:14 GMT
Gov. Pat Quinn said Illinois lawmakers have a chance to make history on two fronts this month by approving a plan to fix the state's decades-old pension crisis and legalizing same-sex marriage.
Gov. Pat Quinn said Illinois lawmakers have a chance to make history on two fronts this month by approving a plan to fix the state's decades-old pension crisis and legalizing same-sex marriage.
