Switching Problems Cause Major Delays On CTA's L Lines
Updated 01/21/16 - 11:45 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Issues with power and track switches caused major problems on the CTA's train lines Thursday morning with some commuters reporting delays of more than an hour.
CBS 2's Vince Gerasole was on a Purple Line train to get from Evanston to downtown, a trip that normally takes about 40 minutes, but which lasted more than two hours on Thursday.
Major signaling and switching issues were centered at Lake and Wells streets in the Loop, beginning around 8:45 a.m., causing backups on all five rail lines that use the elevated tracks downtown.
The Red, Yellow, and Blue lines were not affected by the switching problems, although some commuters on the Blue Line reported delays as a result of the backup on the other lines.
While crews worked to fix the problem, the CTA rerouted many trains to keep them moving. Some Brown Line trains were moved to the inner track of the Loop. Purple Line trains and some Brown Line trains were shifted to the Red Line subway between Fullerton and Roosevelt.
Some Orange, Green, and Pink Line trains were turned back before they reached downtown. Many of those riders were asked to get off the trains, and then bused to alternative routes.
"It was crazy. We had to get off on Halsted, and then I had to walk all the way to Roosevelt and take a bus, and then I had to take the Blue Line down," delayed CTA rider Rosa Perez said. "They just told us to get off, and then some people had to walk on the tracks, but it was okay. It took like two hours to get here. It was insane."
Around 10:20 a.m., the CTA reported that normal service was being gradually restored, but residual delays were expected through the rest of the morning.
