“Missing Train” Panic: St. Louis-to-Chicago Amtrak Found After Partial Derailment. A social media scare erupted after Amtrak Train 22, traveling from St. Louis to Chicago, was disabled and partially derailed just 15 miles from the city on Sunday afternoon, prompting rumors that the entire train had gone missing.
The rumors spread quickly during a massive holiday travel day, fueled by the unexpected failure and the immediate difficulty in tracking the disabled train’s status.
The Facts: A Partial Derailment
Amtrak was quick to dismiss the frantic rumors, confirming the train was never missing, but instead experienced a critical mechanical failure at approximately 1:35 p.m. CT.
The incident occurred when two sets of wheels on the lead locomotive and one set of wheels on a railcar lost contact with the CN tracks while the train was moving at a low speed southwest of Chicago.
There were 253 passengers on board, and Amtrak confirmed that no injuries were reported.
Emergency Transfer and Investigation
Despite the initial confusion, the passengers were kept comfortable by the crew, who distributed complimentary food and beverages. All passengers were then safely transferred to chartered buses from a nearby commuter rail station to complete their journey to Chicago.
The fact that the entire train and all 253 passengers were safely accounted for was a significant relief, but the incident remains under investigation. The cause of the partial derailment on such a busy holiday travel day is being scrutinized by authorities.
Amtrak has assured the public that operations are expected to return to normal on Monday, with full daily round-trips resuming between Chicago and St. Louis.
