Chicago Transit Authority Train Collides with Bumping Post and Escalator At O’Hare Station

This animated reconstruction shows the sequence of events during the accident, in which train 141 collided with a bumping post and escalator at O’Hare Station at O’Hare International Airport. The accident occurred on March 24, 2014 at 2:49 a.m. local time, when train 141 entered the center pocket track through the crossover switches at a steady speed at 23 mph, going past a red signal and a mechanical track trip, then colliding with the bumping post and escalator. First, a two-dimensional animation is used to provide an overview of the circumstances of the accident. The animation is followed by a surveillance video showing the collision from the top of the escalator, which is followed by a post-accident photograph. The animation includes audio with a voice over narration.
The animation begins with an overall map of the Chicago Transit Authority’s blue line with stations indicated. The route of train 141 from Logan Square Station to O’Hare Station is illustrated. The next image is a diagram (not to scale) of O’Hare Station, depicting an overall view of the station Track 1 is shown at the top of the diagram, the center pocket track is in the middle and track 2 is at the bottom of the diagram. Bumping posts are shown located before the end of each track. A solid red signal and a mechanical track trip are indicated adjacent to the center pocket track; a train would encounter the signal and track trip before reaching the bumping post near the end of the track. Escalators and stairs to the airport terminal are depicted beyond the end of center track. Trains were parked at the platform on tracks 1 and 2 when train 141 entered the station, so it passed through crossover switches onto the center pocket track to service the station. A red signal on the center pocket track activated the train’s brakes electronically, and a track trip on the center pocket track activated the train’s brakes mechanically, but there was insufficient distance to stop the train before it collided with the bumping post and then continued onto the station platform and up the escalator towards the O’Hare airport terminal. Surveillance video from the airport looking directly at the train is shown, followed by a photograph of train 141 at rest on the escalators up to the airport terminal.