Up to 100 passengers were evacuated from a subway tunnel Tuesday after one train stalled and officials shut down all service on a major route between downtown and O'Hare International Airport. Four people were taken to hospitals but none of their injuries were considered life-threatening, Chicago Transit Authority president Ron Huberman said.

One train stalled shortly after 8 a.m. inside a tunnel near the station at Clark and Lake streets in Chicago's Loop and some passengers jumped off, Huberman said.

CTA employees attempted to get those passengers back on the train, but because some refused, the authority shut down power to the whole Blue Line to make sure no touched the electrified third rail.

As many as 100 passengers had to be evacuated from that first train and two others that stopped inside the tunnel when the power was cut, authority spokeswoman Sheila Gregory said.

It was not immediately clear why the first train stalled, the agency said. There were no reports of smoke in the tunnel.

Gregory said it was unclear when power could be restored on the Blue Line, which runs from downtown to O'Hare and the northwest as well as south and west of the downtown area.

The Blue Line, which includes some elevated sections, carries 60,000 people a day. Huberman said bus shuttles were set up for riders.

---

On the Net:

CTA: http://www.transitchicago.com/

Email To A Friend