FBI Probes Double Train Derailment

Wednesday, October 3rd 2007, 11:13 am

By: News On 6

CHICAGO (AP) Federal officials are investigating two rush-hour commuter train derailments on separate tracks near the same station, a week after 30 railroad spikes were found missing from tracks on the same line.

The cars remained upright after Tuesday's derailment and no injuries were reported, officials said.

The FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force are looking into the incidents, Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said.

``It's rare to have two derailments at the same location,'' Pardonnet said.

Both trains were removed by early Wednesday and normal service was restored for the morning rush.

The first train derailed around 5 pm on Tuesday. About 257 passengers were on the first train and they transferred to another train, Pardonnet said.

The second train, carrying about 200 passengers, derailed around 6:30 pm as it tried to go around the first train, Pardonnet said.

Before Tuesday's derailments, the FBI said it would offer a reward of as much as $50,000 for information into last week's missing spikes, which are used to hold down metal plates that bind the rails to wooden ties.

Employees of the Metra suburban rail system discovered the damage on September 24.

The Metra commuter rail system serves Chicago's suburbs and carries trains from northern Indiana's South Shore Line.