Metra apologizes after second day of rush hour train delays, cancellations lead to overcrowding

Large crowds of commuters trying to get home amid brutally cold weather in Chicago crowded Union Station after a second day of rush hour train delays and cancellations.

The apology followed two consecutive afternoons of train service disruptions on the BNSF, the train line that services the western suburbs.

Video and photos taken at Union Station following the delays on Tuesday and Wednesday showed large hordes of commuters crowding in the station.

“Metra apologizes for tonight’s overcrowding at Chicago Union Station and the delays caused by switch problems,” the rail service agency said Wednesday.

Issues with BNSF trains started popping up around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to the BNSF X account.

Train no. 1247, scheduled to depart at 4 p.m., was stopped mid-route near Halsted Street due to switch problems, Metra said around 4:15 p.m.

Then, around 4:30 p.m., train no. 1247 was also stopped near Halsted Street due to switch problems.

Five minutes later, Metra announced train no. 1247 would not operate due to the switch problems.

Shortly after that, Metra announced all inbound and outbound BNSF trains would be delayed by up to 20 minutes due to switch problems and advised BNSF, SWS and HCD passengers they may “experience heavy congestion at Chicago Union Station due to switch problems.”

Around 6:25 p.m. Metra shared another update, stating that inbound and outbound trains may be delayed up to 45 minutes due to a switch failure.

Finally, around 6:41 p.m., Metra said the trains were back on the move and “may be operating with extensive delays due to switch problems.”

Metra also said they are working with Amtrak to review the situation.

Metra shared the apology on their X account for the BNSF line.

Around 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, Metra announced that a BNSF train scheduled to leave Union Station at 5 p.m. was delayed due to an “operational incident.”

By 5:30 p.m., the train was on the move and operating 15 to 25 minutes behind schedule, according to an update from Metra.

Despite the seemingly short delay, large crowds of commuters also formed inside Union Station Tuesday, video showed.

Though Metra did not confirm the cause of the switch problems, the transportation agency uses a fiery technique to keep ice accumulation that could cause switch problems at bay during periods of extreme cold.