2023 Chicago train crash
{{Short description|2023 railway incident near Howard CTA station}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox public transit accident
| name = 2023 Chicago train crash
| image = {{#property:image}}
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| caption = The front of the crashed train and the yellow snow removal vehicle
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| date = {{start date and age|2023|11|16}}
| time = 10:39 a.m. CST
| location = Howard Yard near Howard station
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| location_city = Chicago, Illinois
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| country = United States
| line = CTA Yellow Line
| operator = {{#statements:operator}}
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| bus =
| trains = 1
| vehicles = 1
| passengers = 30
| crew = 7
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On November 16, 2023, a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) passenger train collided with maintenance equipment north of Howard station, injuring 16 people.{{Cite news |author-last1=Goudie |author-first1=Chuck |author-last2=Jordan |author-first2=Karen |author-last3=Markoff |author-first3=Bob |author-last4=Tressel |author-first4=Christine |date=2023-12-12 |title=NTSB report on CTA Yellow Line train crash that injured 16 says signal equipment not updated |url=https://abc7chicago.com/cta-yellow-line-ntsb-national-transportation-safety-board-train-crash/14172040/ |access-date=2024-01-06 |publisher=WLS-TV |publication-place=Chicago |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212193510/https://abc7chicago.com/cta-yellow-line-ntsb-national-transportation-safety-board-train-crash/14172040/ |archive-date=2023-12-12 |url-status=live}}{{Cite report |title=Chicago Transit Authority Yellow Line Train Collision with Snow Removal Machine |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/RRD24MR002.aspx |author=National Transportation Safety Board |access-date=2024-01-06 |date=2023-12-12 |docket=RRD24MR002}}
Accident
At 10:39 a.m. local time (07:50 UTC) on November 16, 2023, a Yellow Line passenger train, carrying 30 passengers and 1 operator, approaching its terminal at Howard station at {{Convert|26.9|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} collided with stopped snow-removal equipment, carrying 6 employees, on the southern track.{{Cite news |date=2023-12-12 |title=NTSB releases first report on November Yellow Line train crash, offering insights behind moments leading up to the incident |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/ntsb-releases-first-report-on-november-yellow-line-train-crash/3301461/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |publisher=WMAQ-TV |publication-place=Chicago |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212190648/https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/ntsb-releases-first-report-on-november-yellow-line-train-crash/3301461/ |archive-date=2023-12-12 |url-status=live |language=en-US}} The front car of the two-car train was partially crushed and derailed.{{Cite news |last=Cherone |first=Heather |date=2023-11-16 |title=23 people injured as CTA train derails near Howard Street station: Officials |language= |publisher=WTTW |publication-place=Chicago |url=https://news.wttw.com/2023/11/16/23-people-injured-cta-train-derails-near-howard-street-station-officials |url-status=live |access-date=2023-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116205409/https://news.wttw.com/2023/11/16/23-people-injured-cta-train-derails-near-howard-street-station-officials |archive-date=2023-11-16}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf0m2P9eC1c |title=NTSB B Roll – CTA Train Collision with Rail Equipment |date=2023-11-18 |author=National Transportation Safety Board |via=YouTube}} Fifteen ambulances responded to the scene.{{Cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Alex V. |date=2023-11-20 |orig-date=2023-11-16 |title=At least 23 hospitalized, 3 critically hurt after CTA train crashes near Howard |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/11/16/breaking-cta-train-derails-near-howard-street-officials-say/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207035905/https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/11/16/breaking-cta-train-derails-near-howard-street-officials-say/ |archive-date=2023-12-07 |access-date=2023-12-07 |publisher=Block Club Chicago}} Of the 37 people aboard both vehicles, 16 were injured, 3 of which were in critical condition.
Service on the Yellow Line was discontinued pending an investigation.{{Cite news |last1=Sobol |first1=Rosemary |last2=Sherry |first2=Sophie |last3=Heather |first3=Kade |last4=Armentrout |first4=Mitchell |last5=Miller |first5=Violet |date=2023-11-17 |title='Screeching and a bam': Passengers have no answers on cause of CTA Yellow Line crash |work=Chicago Sun-Times |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/11/17/23965477/chicago-cta-yellow-line-service-suspended-crash-howard-street |url-status=live |access-date=2023-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118154829/https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/11/17/23965477/chicago-cta-yellow-line-service-suspended-crash-howard-street |archive-date=2023-11-18}}
Train
Footage from investigators show that the train involved in the accident was one 5000-series pair, cars 5599 and 5600, and the maintenance vehicle was a Niigata Transys-built diesel snow removal vehicle numbered S-500.{{Cite report |title=Chicago Transit Authority Evaluation of Rail Borne Snow Removal Vehicle (S-500). Final Report |last=Torres |first=W. R. |date=1988 |via=National Academy of Sciences}}
Investigation
The following day, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) started an investigation into the crash.{{Cite news |last=Vinicky |first=Amanda |date=2023-11-17 |title=National Transportation Safety Board launches investigation into CTA Yellow Line crash |publisher=WTTW |publication-place=Chicago |url=https://news.wttw.com/2023/11/17/national-transportation-safety-board-launches-investigation-cta-yellow-line-crash |url-status=live |access-date=2023-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117224737/https://news.wttw.com/2023/11/17/national-transportation-safety-board-launches-investigation-cta-yellow-line-crash |archive-date=2023-11-17}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liJYGu_1eE8 |title=NTSB Media Brief – Chicago, Illinois CTA Train Collision |date=2023-11-17 |author=National Transportation Safety Board |via=YouTube}} Initial news reports suspected the operator to be incapacitated or in error;{{Cite news |last1=Randhawa |first1=PJ |last2=Smyser |first2=Katy |last3=Capitanini |first3=Lisa |date=2023-11-16 |title=Radio traffic sheds light on CTA Yellow Line crash, one of worst in agency's history |publisher=WMAQ-TV |publication-place=Chicago |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/radio-traffic-sheds-light-on-cta-yellow-line-crash-one-of-worst-in-agencys-history/3280505/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116225109/https://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/radio-traffic-sheds-light-on-cta-yellow-line-crash-one-of-worst-in-agencys-history/3280505/ |archive-date=2023-11-16}} however, a preliminary announcement from the NTSB indicated that the CTA had underestimated its trains' braking distance, compounded by the effects of slippery rails.{{Cite news |last=Bradley |first=Ben |date=2023-12-20 |title=Why is the CTA Yellow Line still closed 1 month after crash? |url=https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-investigates/why-is-the-cta-yellow-line-still-closed-1-month-after-crash/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |publisher=WGN-TV |publication-place=Chicago |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221013616/https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-investigates/why-is-the-cta-yellow-line-still-closed-1-month-after-crash/ |archive-date=2023-12-21 |url-status=live |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Struett |first=David |date=2023-11-19 |title=Passengers question role of human error in CTA Yellow Line crash |work=Chicago Sun-Times |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2023/11/19/23967975/cta-yellow-line-crash-ntsb-passengers-question-human-error-in-causing-collision-with-snow-plow |url-status=live |access-date=2023-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119234218/https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2023/11/19/23967975/cta-yellow-line-crash-ntsb-passengers-question-human-error-in-causing-collision-with-snow-plow |archive-date=2023-11-19}}
In a preliminary report released on December 12, 2023, the NTSB found that, at the time of the incident, the snow-removal equipment had stopped {{Convert|370|ft|m|abbr=}} north of a red signal. The passenger train operator received a stop command from the signal system when the train was traveling southbound at approximately {{Convert|54|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, about {{Convert|2150|ft|m}} behind the snow-removal equipment. The operator engaged the brakes and emergency brakes, and the train decelerated to {{Convert|26.9|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} before colliding with the stationary equipment.{{Cite news |last=Feurer |first=Todd |date=2023-12-12 |title=Yellow Line driver braked before crash with snow plow, NTSB finds |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/yellow-line-snow-plow-crash-ntsb-preliminary-report/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |publisher=WBBM-TV |publication-place=Chicago |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212201422/https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/yellow-line-snow-plow-crash-ntsb-preliminary-report/ |archive-date=2023-12-12 |url-status=live |language=en-US}}
Aftermath
Following the incident, service on the Yellow Line was fully closed and replaced with bus service, initially announced to be for a period of five days. Following the release of the NTSB's preliminary report, the CTA announced that it would reduce the speed limit on the Yellow Line from {{Convert|55|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} to {{Convert|35|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, and to {{Convert|25|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in the area where the crash occurred.{{Cite news |last=Liederman |first=Mack |date=2023-12-14 |title=CTA To Cut Yellow Line Speeds From 55 To 35 MPH After Crash |url=http://blockclubchicago.org/2023/12/13/cta-to-cut-yellow-line-speeds-from-55-to-35-mph-after-crash/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |publisher=Block Club Chicago |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217134637/https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/12/13/cta-to-cut-yellow-line-speeds-from-55-to-35-mph-after-crash/ |archive-date=2023-12-17 |url-status=live |language=en-US}} Yellow Line service resumed on January 5, 2024{{Cite news |last=Piekos |first=Christian |date=2024-01-05 |title=CTA Yellow Line trains back in service for first time since November crash |url=https://abc7chicago.com/cta-yellow-line-chicago-trains-train/14278650/ |access-date=2024-01-06 |publisher=WLS-TV |publication-place=Chicago |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105153938/https://abc7chicago.com/cta-yellow-line-chicago-trains-train/14278650/ |archive-date=2024-01-05 |url-status=live |language=en}} and the speed limit was returned to {{Convert|55|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} for most of the route on April 20, 2025.{{Cite press release|title=New CTA Rail Service Schedules Begin This Weekend|date=2024-04-19|publisher=Chicago Transit Authority|url=https://www.transitchicago.com/new-cta-rail-service-schedules-begin-this-weekend/|language=en|access-date=2025-04-23}}
See also
References
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External links
- [https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/RRD24MR002.aspx NTSB investigation page]
{{2023 railway accidents}}
{{Chicago L |state=autocollapse}}
Category:2023 disasters in the United States
Category:Railway accidents and incidents in Illinois
Category:Railway accidents in 2023
Category:Accidents and incidents involving Chicago Transit Authority