Avoiding the F word at all cost
It was a hectic Friday morning commute on the first snowy day of winter 2006-07. By 7 am, riders were reporting via CTA wireless alerts that a fire had closed the Harrison station. Then by 8:30, heavy smoke forced evacuation of passengers at stations in the Red Line subway tunnel. But the CTA was always careful in describing what had happened.
My motorman had this to say about the Harrison event: "Passengers, we had been delayed earlier in the tunnel due to an electrical, uh, situation that has been rectified.
"We are experiencing a delay, obviously." Well, duh. But still, thanks for letting us know.
The smooth-talking motorman actually kept us well-informed in a clear, calm voice about troubles on that snowy Friday morning.
Yet, I note that all CTA personnel studiously avoid uttering the F word -- fire!
And in a sense I can't blame them. But there have been a few occasions when fellow passengers told us here about seeing fire on the tracks that the CTA vehemently denied happening.
Where there's smoke, there's fire?
The photo above was taken by T Fish.
The situation was almost identical today (Monday 12/4). There was no fire, but the SB Red Line train I was on stopped running when it reached Grand. There was no announcement from the conductor, just passengers noticing the other cars emptying out.
This was after standing for 15 or 20 minutes at the Sheridan stop with no information on delayed trains.
CTA's Red Line service is pathetic, as well as their ability to provide customers with information.
Posted by: Tony | December 04, 2006 at 09:04 AM
My train driver said that trains would be going overhead due to "an explosion in the red line tunnel", which sounds even scarier than the F-word as far as I'm concerned.
Posted by: melanctha | December 04, 2006 at 09:15 AM
Once again when CTA says there was no FIRE on Friday they are LYING. This time I was there personally with my 7 month daughter so I'm a first hand witness. No excuses. And I had my digital camera with me! Guess what that means sportsfans! CTA had there usual worthless communications...the train stpped at Clyborn, and then we were told transfer to the 72 bus without any explanation as to what was going on. Anyone who believes CTA BullShit is a mental defective. Sadly, I personally could run the entire CTA better than the entire CTA board. I've said it before and I'll say it again...we are really lucky that these incidents are only the result of CTA laziness & incompetence because if heaven forbid some terrorist or psycho decides to set an intentional fire or blow something up down there thousands are going to die for sure. If it happens during rush hour way more people are going to be trapped and idie than on 9-11.
Posted by: Dan Suizzo | December 04, 2006 at 10:35 AM
Tony: I have been riding the Dan Ryan branch of the Red Line for the last 4.5 months and I could not be more pleased with the service. Trains are clean coming of 95th and remain clean by the time I get off downtown (Monroe). The trains coming from the north on my commute home are consistently dirty.
Posted by: MC High Life | December 04, 2006 at 11:44 AM
So trains are clean in the morning and dirty by evening. Fascinating.
Posted by: bopo | December 04, 2006 at 04:11 PM
bopo: When I lived on the north side, the Red was always dirty, morning or evening. Consider me fascinated.
Posted by: MC High Life | December 05, 2006 at 10:28 AM
What are you idiots talking about?
Look, I don't have a problem with the train being dirty as long as it is not on fire or exploding! Try getting a clue and not changing the subject!
Posted by: Dan Suizzo | December 05, 2006 at 12:00 PM
Dan: What "clue" am I missing? On fire or exploding? Seems a little extreme...
Posted by: MC High Life | December 05, 2006 at 12:03 PM
Yesterday around 12:30 in the afternoon, my SB redline stopped at North/Clybourn. Just stopped. No word and sat awhile. It smelled like brakes burning and then another passenger poked his head into our car and said, "We think there's a car on fire even though they haven't said anything - there is smoke up there you may want to get off" So most of us got off the train. We were standing on the platform looking around, then the doors closed with no warning and took off - with a bunch of passengers still on and NOTHING in the form of a report or update. when we got back on someone was telling everyone else how he saw a CTA worker with a fire extinguisher come on board and say "theres no fire, stand back!" - but they never said a thing.
Posted by: mhaller | December 05, 2006 at 12:14 PM
Given recent events, it's only a matter of time before someone dies on the CTA again. Seems like some of the injured passengers on the Blue Line train that derailed were lucky to be alive. Communication failures and indifferent employees are going to result in tragedy if the system continues to deteriorate.
Posted by: mike | December 07, 2006 at 12:41 PM