Amtrak and Its Use Over the Years
There are many people in the U.S. and Canada that use Amtrak to travel to much farther destinations. It is also a great way to plan a family getaway, offering the best prices to get the best views of all of America. While there are many inner-state train stations, where those trains are strictly limited for in-state travel, Amtrak is different. Amtrak can travel from one end of the country to the other, with several stops within this long travel.
There are also several amenities that Amtrak has to offer, such as first class, and also has its own diner within the train. Therefore, food and water will not be an issue, as there is a place specially dedicated to this.
What Occurred in Union Station in Chicago?
There was a scheduled departure from Union Station, and this had to be canceled last minute as there was a derailment that occurred. The Amtrak derailment occurred at 3:10 p.m. May 7, officials say, as train 7/27 was embarking on a trip from Chicago to Seattle and then to Portland.
This derailment then caused several other trains to be delayed or even canceled, as officials were trying their best to get this situation resolved. This situation was completely unexpected but is great that it happened at the station. Many question, what if this situation occurred somewhere farther away from the station, and worse than it was?
Therefore, due to the train derailing, there were several trains whose routes were impacted in one form or another. There was also one part of the train that causes the train to become disabled. Amtrak said part of one train engine derailed, leaving the train disabled on the tracks. No injuries were reported. However, other Amtrak trains were delayed as they worked to get the disabled train moving again.
Therefore, it is great that there were no injuries, and that this was simply a small accident that could easily be fixed and prevented in future departures. However, it may be that there are some passengers are left with a bit of anxiety, as this could have certainly been worse, which thankfully in this case, it was not. Although a lot of people’s schedules changed, it is relieving this accident was not a bad one.
Amount of Derailments in Chicago
Besides this derailment, not too long ago, there was another derailment in Chicago as well. This can spread panic across travelers, as they never know if this can occur to them. Although the chances can be low, there is still a possibility of there being an accident.
“This is the second derailment involving Amtrak at Chicago Union Station in ten days. On April 28, a locomotive derailed in the station, again disrupting operations for Metra and Amtrak,” according to Railfan Railroad Magazine. Therefore, within just ten days, this occurred once again. There is a hope that officials will be able to take measures into their own hands and make sure that each train and track alike will not be the cause of an accident.
The Future of Amtrak
Amtrak is a great way to travel from one end of the country to the other. Despite these derailments, it is still a great way to have a family getaway this summer. It is with utter certainty that Amtrak will work to get these issues resolved. They will certainly be sure to check before each departure to make sure that these trains are in perfect working order. However, it is great that these were prevented from being major, and were caught in the station in Chicago.
Written by David Loran Jr
Sources:
NBC 5 News: Chicago Amtrak Train Derailment Causes Some Metra Trains to Be Delayed, Canceled
CBS News: Amtrak train derails at Union Station; three Metra lines delayed
Railfan Railroad Magazine: UPDATED: ‘Empire Builder’ Derails Departing Chicago Union Station
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Mike Knell’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Colin Keefe’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
