Natalia Chi
Two Canadian Pacific Railroad freight trains derailed at Franklin Park on Sunday afternoon. The company said no one was injured and the tracks were removed within hours.
At about 12:45 pm, two cars, one loaded with wheat and one empty, pulled off the tracks. A company spokeswoman said there were no injuries or public safety risks.
“CP officials moved the remaining trains and cleared all railroad crossings,” CP said in an email Sunday afternoon.
The train derailed on the Milwaukee District West Line, causing a 15-minute delay for Metra trains.
“The team is working with Metra to do field evaluations,” CP said.
The cause of the derailment is under investigation.
Following a series of freight train accidents this year, including the derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, state and federal Congress called for stronger rail safety measures.
When the federal government approved the purchase of the Kansas City Southern Railroad by Canadian Pacific this month, several elected officials were critical of the decision, which slowed commuter rail service, hampered first responders, and slowed people down. He said he was putting his life at risk.
According to Bensenville Mayor Frank Desimon, the railroad merger will increase the number of freight trains per day from three to 11, increasing freight traffic in the area by 400%.
“They ignored concerns about our safety, ignored concerns about quality of life, ignored concerns about the negative impact on economic development,” DeSimone said at a press conference at the time.
“They ignored concerns about our safety, ignored concerns about quality of life, ignored concerns about the negative impact on economic development,” DeSimone said at a press conference at the time.
The bipartisan Rail Safety Act of 2023, championed by Democratic Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown and Republican J.D. Vance, includes a requirement that trains have at least two crew members. Expand classification of highly flammable trains and increase fines for safety violations.
“The bottom line is that what happened in Eastern Palestine could have just as easily happened in Illinois,” Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth said.
