ST. LOUIS, Mo. (25News Now and First Alert 4) – An Amtrak train that left St. Louis for Chicago around 8 a.m. Sunday was disabled on the way and could not complete the trip, according to an Amtrak spokesperson.
Amtrak says a number of the train’s wheels went off the tracks just outside of Chicago. The exact cause of the issue is still under investigation.
The train had earlier passed through Bloomington-Normal with a stop at Uptown Station.
No injuries were reported.
Amtrak said the 253 passengers on board were transferred to charter buses and taken the rest of the way to their destination.
An Amtrak spokesperson released a statement to KMOV, First Alert 4 in St. Louis.
“At approximately 1:35 p.m. CT on Nov. 30, two sets of wheels on a locomotive leading Train 22 and a set of wheels on one railcar lost contact with CN tracks at a low speed about 15 miles southwest of Chicago. The locomotive continued providing power to the comfort systems on all seven railcars, while our crews kept the 253 passengers comfortable as complimentary food and beverages were distributed. There were no reported injuries and passengers continued on to Chicago riding chartered buses from a nearby commuter rail station.
Train 22 operates daily between San Antonio and Chicago [with a stop in St. Louis]. Amtrak thanks CN, Metra Commuter Rail and local authorities for their assistance. The incident will be investigated.”
The accident happened on one of the busiest holiday travel days of the year.
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