NextStop Blog

We are asking MetroLink customers to plan ahead, arrive early and allow extra time for their commutes through the end of next week due to a power issue in Illinois near Emerson Park MetroLink Station.

Around 11 p.m. last night (June 11), a pole holding high voltage power lines was knocked down near the Emerson Park Station.

Various equipment enclosures housing MetroLink signal and communication equipment sustained damage. Power was restored this morning but signal equipment was either damaged or destroyed as a result of the power surge. New equipment must be delivered and installed. Delivery is expected to require several days.  Until then, MetroLink trains operating between the 5^th & Missouri and the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center Stations will run at reduced speeds and must stop at some crossings where MetroLink intersects with vehicle traffic. This stop and proceed operation is required to protect the safety of MetroLink and vehicle passengers.

Currently, MetroLink is running 5 to 10 minutes behind schedule due to the power problem. While, most of you will notice MetroLink delays of 5 to 10 minutes, we recommend allowing extra time if you transfer to MetroBus vehicles. It would be a good idea to arrive at the station in time to take a train or two earlier than your normal train so you can make your regular bus connections. That will mean boarding MetroLink 15 to 20 minutes earlier in the morning. During the afternoon rush hour, you should factor in an extra half hour to make your normal connections between MetroLink and MetroBus.

As a result of this unscheduled service disruption, the single track operation scheduled between the College and Shiloh-Scott MetroLink Stations has been cancelled through the end of this week.