Yellow Line service resumes 7 weeks after crash

CTA Yellow Line trains resumed service in Skokie on Friday morning following a seven-week suspension after a train collided with a snow plow on November 16, 2023. The crash resulted in 16 people being taken to hospitals, three of them critically injured.

During the lengthy closure, CTA worked to ensure the Yellow Line's safety by examining the train system, conducting tests, and working with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The accident caused approximately $8.7 million in damages to equipment and spurred multiple lawsuits, according to the Tribune. Seven CTA employees were reportedly injured in the crash. A preliminary NTSB report revealed that the train's operator had attempted to brake before the collision. The NTSB investigation into the crash is ongoing.

As trains resume service, several temporary safety measures have been put in place. Maximum speeds have been reduced from 55 mph to 35 mph, and speeds in the area of the collision further decreased to 25 mph.

Crews have cleaned the line's rails of debris and residue, and rail equipment can now only move on the tracks following a verbal command from the CTA's control center. Supervisors will also accompany operators during the initial runs of the re-opened Yellow Line.

According to the Chicago Tribune, CTA President Dorval Carter emphasized the agency's commitment to safety during a press conference at the Oakton-Skokie station. "I will never, never, compromise safety for expediency," said Carter. 

President Carter stated that the temporary measures would be in place until they "have no concerns about the safe operation of the Yellow Line," as reported by the Tribune.

The Yellow Line's resumption of service brings much-needed relief to riders and the Skokie community, who rely on the train for transportation. Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen noted the Yellow Line's importance to residents and its role in supporting local businesses.