CHICAGO RIDGE, Ill. — Metra has canceled all operations on its SouthWest Service today (Feb. 11, 2026) following a freight derailment this morning near its Chicago Ridge station.
No injuries have been reported, and Chicago Ridge police say there is no danger to the public from the derailment.
A Metra spokeswoman told the Chicago Sun-Times that it was informed of the derailment about 4:45 a.m., and that a CSX train is involved. Video from WLS-TV shows overturned intermodal cars at a diamond where Indiana Harbor Belt tracks cross the Metra line, just to the northeast of the Chicago Ridge station.
Oak Lawn fire chief David Wheeler told WMAQ-TV that 10 to 12 railcars had derailed, and that while some of the materials were classified as hazardous, the contents were small packaged goods.
Police report that the derailment has closed Ridgeland Avenue between Southwest Highway and Washington Street, immediately adjacent to the station and diamond, and Central Avenue between 107th Street and Pleasant Boulevard, to the southeast. Oak Lawn police said in a statement to WBBM-TV that the Central Avenue closure is likely to continue for “a couple of days” because the derailment caused road damage.
In customer alerts this morning, Metra announced the cancellation of all SouthWest Service trains in and out of Chicago Union Statiom from the beginning of service to about 12:45 p.m. It announced ahead of the evening rush period that all service had been canceled. The status of Thursday service remains uncertain.
The SouthWest Service operates 15 weekday round trips between Union Station and Orland Park, with five of those continuing to Manhattan, Ill., a former Wabash line. Metra leases most of the route from Norfolk Southern.
— Updated at 5 p.m. CT with additional information. To report news or errors, contact trainsnewswire@firecrown.com.
Share this article
