by Aaron M. Renn
Chronicling life riding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
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Rachel Barton, the violinist who had one leg partially severed in a rail accident last year, has asked the jury for an astronomical $600 million in damages. The jury deliberated nine hours on Saturday before adjorning for the weekend without reaching a verdict. Metra attorneys claimed the accident was Rachel Barton's own fault and that she should get nothing, but even if the jury found that she did deserve something, $5 million would be more than enough. The also expressed outrage at the sum asked for by Barton[ Source: Chicago Tribune 27 February 1999 ]
Two more pedestrians were killed by Metra trains this week, both on the UP-Northwest line. One was hit by an express train in Cary at 6:15am. This stopped all trains until 8am and service was not back to normal until 11am. The other fatality was in Barrington at 1:40am. These two deaths bring the total number of Metra fatalities to seven in 1999. Two of the previous five have already been ruled suicides, with a third being alcohol related. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 26 February 1999 ] [ I wonder if the Barrington accident involed alcohol as well, considering the time - AMR ]
The City of Chicago has reached an agreement with the Illnois Central and Canadian National railroads under which it will drop its opposition to their merger if the combined railroad agrees to abandon the St. Charles Air Line. The St. Charles is a rail spur on the near South Side that Daley claims is impeding neighborhood growth. Since the St. Charles is used by Amtrak passenger trains, a new south side rail connection to Union Station needs to be contructed. This will cost $40-65 million and will be paid for by the railroads and various government entities, including the city. Officials supporting the construction of a new airport at Peotone are happy about this, because this new track will provide a more direct linkage between the IC route and Union Station. In fact, this route is proposed to be upgraded to 110 MPH operation as part of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 22 and 26 February 1999 ] [ Note: abandoning the St. Charles Air Line cuts off any possible rail access from the north and west sides to the south and East Loop - AMR ]
Apparently the CTA deal to open a park and ride lot on South Cicero Ave. has fallen through. The CTA is pursuing alternate locations.
Metra is adding additional cars on the Heritage Corridor line to accomodate anticipated demand during the Stevenson reconstruction. Unfortunately they are not adding additional runs. At only two round trips per day, this line has the fewest number of trains of any in the system.
I was going into work last Monday about noon. I checked the Metra schedule for the nearest train. During midday periods, Metra operates on an hourly schedule on the UP-North line. There were trains every day at two minute past the hour from Main St. - except at 12:02. I thought this was odd, but simply shrugged and went over to the L instead. However while waiting for the train, I saw a Metra come and stop at the platform at - you guessed it - 12:02. There were others waiting there, so they must have known something I did not. The 12:02 is definitely not listed in the printed schedule or the online schedules on their web site. But now I know. I guess I should call them about this.
Of course my L trip was a nightmare. First, we got blocked at the Howard Yard interlocking for several minutes. A Red Line train circled around the turnback track and went into the station ahead of us while we waited. Another Red Line train arrived and started around the turnback track before we started moving. We pulled into Howard just as the Red Line train that had been standing there pulled out. I thought the CTA employees on that platform were about to lose their life. Others and I stormed the platform supervisor to demand to know why the Red Line train hadn't been held up for us. A little old Eastern European lady got there first and started ragging this guy out. (I stayed silent, figuring it is always best to let the little old ladies do the talking). He was a total asshole in return, but did say that the Red Line train was already ten minutes behind schedule and that the one pulling into the station right behind us would be heading right out instead of waiting. Well, it didn't quite head right out, but it did start moving rather soon.
The Weekly Breakdown is a small Internet journal devoted to the trials and tribulations of being a regular rider of the Chicago Transit Authority. I would be happy to hear about and include your experiences. Just send mail to breakdown@urbanophile.com.
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