Metra trains still delayed after derailment

Metra riders should allow extra travel time Friday morning, as some trains are still being delayed almost an hour because of a Thursday morning train derailment south of Union Station in the South Loop.

On Friday morning, Metra reported that 21st Street Heritage Corridor trains will operate 30 to 50 minutes behind schedule because of reroutes in Chicago because of Thursday's derailment. The affected trains are Nos.: 914, 916 and 918. All trains will depart their regular stations on time, according to Metra's Web site.

On the Southwest Line, trains will also operate about 30 to 50 minutes behind schedule. The affected trains are Nos.: 802, 806, 808, 810 and 812. All trains will also depart at their regular stations on time, Metra said.

The Union Pacific freight train derailment happened at near 18th and Lumber streets.

Emergency crews responded to the derailment at 8:53 a.m. Thursday, according to Fire Media Affairs Chief Kevin MacGregor, who said no passengers were aboard the train, and there were no reports of injury. A hazardous materials response because of a minor fuel leak in the Chicago River,was secured at 9:45 a.m.

Four Union Pacific locomotives on the eight-car train rolled from a railyard at Canal Street, according to Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis.

"Two of the locomotives had a couple of wheels off the rail and two others were leaning slightly off the tracks," Davis said.

A rail worker at the scene said workers had gotten off the train and, for some reason, did not set the brake properly. Something went wrong and the train started rolling down a hill and hit a derail, intended to stop the train but did not work.