'Severe' CTA Commuter Nightmare Ensues After Body Found On Fullerton Tracks Tuesday Morning (Updated)
By Stephen Gossett in News on Aug 15, 2017 2:00PM
Commuters wait outside the Belmont CTA station after service disruption / Photo: Emma Reed
Updated 9:50 a.m.: The CTA announced on Twitter at 9:42 a.m. that Red, Brown and Purple line service had resumed through Fullerton Station. However, commuters can "expected residual delays as we get trains & crews back in place."
Train service was suspended on the Red, Brown and Purple lines on Tuesday morning when a body was found on the tracks at the Fullerton station. The suspensions wreaked havoc on the morning commute as crews responded to the medical emergency, causing massive crowds and spikes in rideshare costs.
A man was found dead on the Red Line tracks in the 900 block of West Fullerton Avenue at around 6:35 a.m., according to police.
Red Line service was halted in either direction between the Fullerton and North/Clybourn stations. Brown Line service was between Belmont and Merchandise Mart. Purple Line Express service was also halted with regular Purple Line trains running only between Purple Line trains Linden to Howard.
Red Line service has been temporarily suspended between Belmont and North/Clybourn due to police and fire investigation on the tracks.
— cta (@cta) August 15, 2017
Brown Line service has been temporarily suspended between Belmont and Merchandise due to police and fire investigation on the tracks.
— cta (@cta) August 15, 2017
Bus shuttles were available, according to the CTA, which also urged commuters to finds alternate transportation. But the extensive disruption nevertheless caused huge crowds, notably at Fullerton and Belmont stations, plus long waits and confusion. CTA user Emma Reed told Chicagoist that would-be riders were shoving in the streets near the Belmont station at moments on Tuesday morning.
I've never seen anything like this before. Thoughts to the victim and the victim's family. #fullerton @cta pic.twitter.com/VkDof4kvbv
— Anthony Alfano (@AnthonyAlfano) August 15, 2017
3 train lines shutting down would be less annoying if any workers at Belmont knew anything about the shuttles that should be here. #CTAFail
— UGH (@AuroraMoorealis) August 15, 2017
Cta brown, red and purple lines only running south to Belmont.good way to start Tuesday. 😩 pic.twitter.com/R8K7gTWnR2
— Predrag Djukic (@ThePredrag) August 15, 2017
Wow, so cta stopped trains at Belmont and have one shuttle to go south 😂🙄🙄 pic.twitter.com/cZrMfasL1y
— kira ⚓️ pearl (@frequencyboo) August 15, 2017
Dammmmmn this is what it looks like when the #CTA stops. Hundreds of people on both sides of Belmont. pic.twitter.com/xR0v42QTEO
— Alyssa Bailey (@alyssa_bailey) August 15, 2017
Some commuters said on Twitter that rideshare services like Lyft and Uber showed dramatic surge-pricing increases with the flood in the demand.
.@lyft wtf?? There's a police investigation shutting down the CTA and you choose now to institute surge pricing? pic.twitter.com/KSuIzcpxTT
— Ryan Smith (@wryansmith) August 15, 2017
Death investigation on Chicago CTA trains & @Uber is using the "opportunity" for price gouging $60 to go downtown? Less than 3 miles! #smh
— CurvyDivaLady (@CurvyDivaLady) August 15, 2017
It you're one of the travelers delayed by the maelstrom, be sure to reach out to CTA for a late slip.
We apologize for severe disruption this AM on Red, Brwn, Prpl lns. For late slip, see stn staff or contact Cust Svc: https://t.co/eDPw2mNjN9
— cta (@cta) August 15, 2017
Check back for updates.
Are you stuck on a train or train platform this morning? You might relate to this post we published the last time we saw a CTA delay this major: The 5 Stages Of CTA Train Delay Grief.