Metra 'deeply concerned' after concrete plummets onto passenger at Union Station
Metra's chairman called injuries to a suburban rider hit by falling concrete at Union Station "completely unacceptable" Wednesday as Amtrak hired a contractor to inspect and secure the tracks.
Metra passenger Hilda Piell of Northbrook was hit by the concrete Tuesday. Her injuries were not life-threatening.
Three tracks in the station's north concourse remained out of service Wednesday, affecting Milwaukee District West and North lines and the North Central Service.
Amtrak owns Union Station but not the office building over the tracks where the concrete originated, an official said.
The contractor will reinforce overhead protections for passengers and Amtrak will take legal action if the building owner fails to "inspect and maintain" the property over the tracks, a spokeswoman said.
Metra is "deeply concerned about the condition of Chicago Union Station," Chairman Martin Oberman said, "both as a tenant whose train operations are impacted when incidents occur and also on behalf of our 55,000 customers who travel through this station daily."
The office tower is at 10 Riverside Plaza.
"Our thoughts are with the impacted commuter and we wish for a speedy recovery," said a statement from Callahan Capital Properties, one of the building's owners.
Callahan said it was working closely with the railroad to assess the situation and passenger safety.
Oberman said he directed Metra staff to investigate how the problem occurred to ensure it doesn't happen again.
The near-disaster occurred as Amtrak is firming plans to hire a master developer to fix and find new tenants for the 91-year-old station, which despite recent upgrades is dilapidated.
Amtrak plans to improve passenger walkways, install street-level entrances and exits, and add restaurants and a hotel.