A quiet Thursday night commute on the CTA Yellow Line turned chaotic when a tree crashed onto the tracks in Evanston, derailing a train and stranding dozens of riders on an elevated stretch of track. Emergency crews evacuated 31 people, guiding them down a nearby embankment with ropes for support. Officials said there were no injuries, but the derailment forced a temporary suspension of Yellow Line service and tied up late-night travel for north-side commuters.
Riders described a jarring stop followed by confusion as they tried to figure out how to get off the train. "I was wearing my AirPods when it happened, the train, it just hit like do-do-do-do-do," one passenger told FOX 32 Chicago. Other riders said crews even tried to chainsaw a path so people could walk down because there was no clear way out from the elevated line.
Yellow Line's Recent Troubles
The Evanston derailment is the latest in a run of rough luck for the Yellow Line this spring. In late April, a train derailed near the Howard terminal, forcing evacuations and triggering service suspensions and delays on the Red, Purple and Yellow lines, according to CBS Chicago. Then in mid-June, severe storms knocked a limb onto the Yellow Line tracks near Oakton in Skokie and briefly brought trains to a halt, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Where Officials Stand
As of Friday morning, the CTA had not posted a dedicated advisory about the Evanston derailment on its online alerts, according to the agency's CTA. That page is where the transit agency typically lists service changes, planned work and shuttle information, so riders will need to watch it closely for any follow-up disruptions tied to the incident.
What Riders Should Know
Anyone traveling on or near the Yellow Line should check official CTA alerts and local news before heading out and be prepared for alternate routing when service is suspended. Emergency crews cleared the scene overnight and officials reiterated that no one was hurt, but with the Yellow Line's recent streak of problems, riders may want to build in a little extra time and patience for the trip.
