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Metra Restarts BNSF Trains After Track Theft Investigation

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 22:48 UTC · How we work

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Summary

BNSF Railway train was looted on Chicago’s West Side near 18th Street and Western Avenue before 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
Metra suspended inbound and outbound BNSF Line trains, warning passengers of extensive delays.
All BNSF trains resumed movement by 10:50 a.m., though some schedules remained altered.
Police found boxes and cardboard on the tracks, some containing skin-care products.
BNSF said cargo theft threatens public safety, raises consumer costs, and endangers railroad employees.

Summary

Cook County Sheriff’s Office deployed a dedicated unit to investigate the suspected freight-train burglary.
Skycam9 footage showed dozens of boxes scattered on tracks near 21st Street and Marshall Boulevard.
Police said they have not confirmed a burglary and the incident remains under investigation.
Metra will resume train movements only after police authorize track clearance.
The break-in occurred around 9 a.m., and some trains moved by 10:40 a.m.

History

The 1963 Great Train Robbery, executed against a British Rail freight service at Bridego Railway Bridge, netted £2.6 million and shocked the nation. Metropolitan Police, led by Detective Superintendent Frank Hamer, recovered only a fraction of the cash, while robber Ronnie Biggs later escaped to Brazil. Today's Chicago BNSF Line looting mirrors that historic breach, with Cook County Sheriff’s Office and Metra halting service as boxes of skin-care products littered tracks. The 1963 incident prompted Britain to mandate sealed freight wagons and advanced surveillance, a precedent that now pressures U.S. rail carriers to adopt similar security upgrades.

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Historical Context

The 1963 Great Train Robbery, executed against a British Rail freight service at Bridego Railway Bridge, netted £2.6 million and shocked the nation. Metropolitan Police, led by Detective Superintendent Frank Hamer, recovered only a fraction of the cash, while robber Ronnie Biggs later escaped to Brazil. Today's Chicago BNSF Line looting mirrors that historic breach, with Cook County Sheriff’s Office and Metra halting service as boxes of skin-care products littered tracks. The 1963 incident prompted Britain to mandate sealed freight wagons and advanced surveillance, a precedent that now pressures U.S. rail carriers to adopt similar security upgrades.

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