Metra Implementing Changes To Prevent Last Year's Cold Weather Problems
(CBS) -- Metra says it's putting into practice, everything it learned during last year's Polar Vortex which created long and repeated delays for commuters, reports WBBM's John Cody.
Metra Executive Director Don Orseno says he's expecting a normal evening and morning rush hour, by preparing for the worst, as well as hoping that any snow fall is heavy and wet, not light fluffy and a big problem.
"We're really expecting probably more tomorrow morning if we have problems," said Orseno. "The worst snow for us in this industry is a very cold, light snow that blows and it gets into all the cracks and the crevices and finds its way around the braking system and things," he said.
Orseno says he'll have trains idling all night, track crews out all night to clear snow from crucial switches, and locomotives fueled in outlying railyards to ensure they're ready for the inbound rush hour regardless of the temperature or snowfall.
New switch heaters have been installed to critical crossing points that last year jammed and froze with ice and snow, the most crucial, now manned round the clock.
New, high velocity powered blowers have been purchased to help keep tracks snow-free. Doors that often froze shut on 100 of the 300 oldest train cars have been rebuilt.
Metra says there could be some delays tomorrow morning just because of additional loading, more folks take the train when it's very cold.
If the temperature is zero or below, Metra reduces top speed from 79 to 60 miles an hour, producing slower runs, but they're crossing their fingers there won't be massive delays or cancellations, just like the passengers.