NTSB believes 'design problem' led to CTA Yellow Line train crash that injured 38
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The CTA Yellow Line remains shut down on Saturday night as we learn more about what caused the crash that injured 38 people on Thursday.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators said on Saturday there are likely a few contributing factors, but their key takeaway is that there appears to be a design problem within the CTA system that prevented this train from stopping sooner.
The work continues for the NTSB as crews surveyed the Yellow Line track in Roger's Park, where the train crashed into snow fighter equipment.
"We know that CTA's system saw the snow equipment ahead. It was supposed to be there. They knew it was going to be there," said NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy.
Homendy shared new details on Saturday, saying the train was going 26 mph when it hit the equipment. She said the train did not have time to fully stop because the automated brake system for that train did not start soon enough.
"The braking distance should've been longer," Homendy said. "They should have had 2,745 feet to stop that train; 2,745, not 1,780 feet. That is a design problem."
Homendy said the conductor did everything correctly when trying to manually stop the train, but residue on the track from leaves and other debris caused the wheels to slip, making it more difficult to stop. She said that's natural over time as trains get heavier and the number of passengers fluctuate.
The NTSB believes people should still feel safe riding any train.
"I would take the train tonight, tomorrow," Homendy said. "I have no safety concerns about taking the train."
The NTSB still does not know when Yellow Line service will resume.
They're expected to be on scene for about five days. Then, the CTA will have to do testing on the rail line to make sure it's safe.
