NTSB releases report on CTA Yellow Line crash

CHICAGO - The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday released a preliminary report on the CTA Yellow Line crash that injured dozens and caused roughly $8 million in damage.

The crash happened around 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 16 when a southbound Yellow Line train struck a CTA snow removal machine between the Dempster Skokie Station and the Howard Station.

The CTA train was carrying one operator and 30 passengers at the time of the crash while six CTA workers were on the snow removal machine.

Sixteen people were hospitalized as a result of the crash and three were critically injured, according to the NTSB.

Part of the NTSB's statement read as follows:

"The passenger train was traveling southbound about 54 mph when the operator received a stop command from the signal system because of the snow removal machine stopped on the track about 2,150 feet ahead. The operator immediately initiated a full service braking application to stop the train. The operator then saw the snow removal machine and initiated an emergency braking application. The train decelerated to about 27 mph before striking the snow removal machine. Preliminary review of the train’s event recorder showed that the wheel slide protection system activated throughout both braking applications."

The NTSB said the CTA's signal system at the site of the crash was configured to allow a stopping distance of 1,780 feet or less.

Several lawsuits have been filed against the CTA after the crash with some claiming the collision was "completely preventable." 

The CTA has released safety enhancements that it intends to enact to "provide the highest level of safety." They're shared below: 

1. Establishing a new maximum speed on the Yellow Line from 55 mph to 35 mph.

• Also, reducing the speed limit in the area where the incident occurred to 25 mph.
• This will decrease the distance necessary for a train to stop, and increases the available reaction time available to an operator. CTA is taking a very conservative approach, again out of an abundance of caution.

2. Expanded cleaning of rails.

• CTA has cleaned debris and any accumulated residues, deposits or films along the running rails of Yellow Line tracks, where the train wheels operate. It will allow for more friction, which will limit the potential for slipping or sliding of wheels.

3. Implementing what’s referred to as manual blocking for non-revenue vehicles, like snowplows and other work equipment.

• Manual blocking is an operational control protocol that requires railcars and non-revenue equipment to move only after receiving a verbal command from CTA’s Control Center.  In this way, these railcar and equipment movements are closely scrutinized and monitored through human intervention and direction that does not rely solely on the control of automated systems. This manual process will provide an added layer of communications and protection.

4. Rail operator information and awareness. 

• All rail operators assigned to the Yellow, Red and Purple Lines (operators who work out of the Howard terminal and can be assigned to the Yellow Line) will receive in-person overview of these precautionary safety enhancements.

5. Supervised trips. 

• CTA supervisors and managers will accompany Yellow Line train operators for the first several trips when the Line reopens, providing an extra set of eyes and ears as operators make those initial trips, and allowing operators to ask any questions or receive guidance.

As testing continues, CTA said there are still free shuttle buses for Yellow Line customers that connect the Howard station and two Skokie stations – Oakton-Skokie and Dempster-Skokie.