Commuters on Chicago's South Side experienced significant delays Monday morning when a CTA Green Line train stalled, necessitating a dramatic rescue operation by fire crews. As reported by ABC 7 Chicago, the train came to a halt near 63rd Street and Normal Avenue in the Englewood neighborhood, with passengers ultimately being evacuated one by one using ladders from the elevated track.
According to CBS News Chicago, service was suspended between the 35th-Bronzeville-IIT stop and the 63rd/Cottage Grove and Ashland/63rd stops, with shuttle buses quickly deployed to bridge the service gap. One passenger reported there was "no abrupt stop or loud noises" before the train stopped, and that the operator announced the train had derailed, though this has not been officially confirmed by CTA officials as a derailment. During the rescue, video footage captured firefighters mounting the elevated tracks, and at least two individuals were taken away by ambulances.
With the train stranded on tracks approximately 30 feet above ground, the exact cause of the interruption to the busy Green Line remains unclear. While CTA Green Line trains are currently operating from Harlem/Lake to 35th-Bronzeville-IIT only, the authorities have been silent on whether anyone was injured during the incident or how many passengers were aboard the train at the time of the stall. Shuttle buses are continuing to run and provide connections from 35th-Bronzeville-IIT to the affected stops.
The situation led to a swift response from emergency services, who were tasked with ensuring all stranded passengers were safely removed from the train. Firefighters had to carefully use ladders to ensure each person could gradually descend to the ground. Green Line service disruptions are expected to impact travel plans for many commuters in the area, and passengers have been advised to seek alternative routes or make use of the provided shuttle services.
