Metra Spokesman Says Evening Commute Should be Back to Normal

Update: 5:15 p.m.

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that a shortage of “qualified” engineers caused delays of up to an hour on the Metra West Line this morning, but evening trains should be operating with only a few minor delays.

A combination of vacations, training and illness—not a labor dispute—led to a shortage of engineers, according to the article.

 Some trains on the Union Pacific West Line were operating nearly an hour behind schedule this morning, and at least six trains were canceled.

A Metra spokesperson attributed the tardiness to a combination of family leave and staff training.