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| FBI Checks Possible Chicago Rail Sabotage |
| 2007-09-28 |
| The FBI is investigating whether a section of commuter train tracks was sabotaged after Metra workers discovered a dozen railroad spikes missing in an area on Chicago's South Side. The spikes hold down metal plates that bind the rails to wooden ties. "If a sufficient number of spikes are removed in a contained location, there's the potential for the rail to shift, which would lead to disastrous results and train derailment," said Federal Railroad Administration spokesman Steve Kulm. Metra employees discovered the missing spikes Monday and notified police and federal authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration, which investigates threats to planes and trains. The FBI said it was conducting a criminal investigation into "sabotage." FBI spokesman Ross Rice said agents were checking for possible connections to a domestic violence case involving a Metra engineer. "No one has claimed responsibility or called in a threat," Rice said. "No similar incident has been reported to us in the metropolitan area. This is a serious incident, and we are aggressively investigating." The affected tracks carry three commuter lines, including the Metra Electric Line to University Park and Blue Island, and the South Shore Line to Michigan City and South Bend, Ind. Near Hyde Park? |
| Posted by:Nimble Spemble |
| #4 (clicked too soon) The Metra Electric Line toward University Park does indeed go past the University of Chicago at 59th Street. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2007-09-28 11:41 |
| #3 Here's a link to the system map index. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2007-09-28 11:39 |
| #2 no listening equipment on the rail, huh? |
| Posted by: newc 2007-09-28 08:40 |
| #1 FBI spokesman Ross Rice No relation to Condoleeza, despite any similarities. which investigates threats to planes and trains. But only those of Spain's which fall mainly in the plains. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-09-28 04:21 |