Train derails near Oak Lawn, Chicago Ridge; Metra riders face major delays

Train derailment near Oak Lawn, Chicago Ridge halts service

A freight train derailment near Chicago Ridge prompted road closures and suspended Metra service on Wednesday morning.

COOK COUNTY, Ill. - A freight train derailment near Chicago Ridge prompted road closures and suspended Metra service on Wednesday morning.

What we know:

The derailment happened at 4:24 a.m. between Ridgeland Avenue and Central Avenue, according to the Chicago Ridge Police Department. 

The train, operated by CSX, had 10 cars derail, the company said.

Authorities said there was no danger to the public, no injuries were reported and no hazardous materials were involved.

Metra spokeswoman Martha Hill said the agency was notified of the derailment around 4:45 a.m. and immediately began canceling Southwest Service trains in both directions.

"We have been annulling trains on the Southwest Service," Hill said. "This is going to take some cleanup, and we're going to need our freight partners to come in, assess the situation, do the investigation, see what caused this derailment."

Freight train derailment in Chicago suburb sparks delays

A freight train derailment near Chicago Ridge prompted road closures and suspended Metra service Wednesday.

Hill said the freight train involved is more than 9,000 feet long and extremely heavy, requiring specialized equipment and significant manpower to rerail the cars.

Several nearby roads were closed as crews responded. Ridgeland Avenue was shut down between Southwest Highway and Washington Street, while Central Avenue was closed at the railroad tracks between 107th Street and Pleasant Avenue.

Metra spokesperson Meg Thomas Reile told Fox Chicago that the company could not guarantee that service would be restored Thursday.

"We have damage to our tracks and to the Indiana Harbor Belt/CSX have damage to the tracks their train was on," said Reile. "In addition to rail damage, car damage, they have significant switch and signal damage that they have to take care of."

What you can do:

Police warned motorists to expect significant traffic delays in the area and urged drivers to use alternate routes. Residents were also asked to avoid the scene so first responders and railroad workers can operate safely.

What's next:

Passenger service will resume Thursday morning, according to a statement from CSX.

The cause of the derailment is still under investigation.