Amtrak’s Safety Record

Amtrak plans to relocate major portions of its Chicago passenger-train maintenance and servicing operations from its existing 14th Street/Lumber Street facility to the Canal Street Yard beside Bridgeport and surrounding communities.

Amtrak says the new facility will be modern and safe. It says maintenance will take place primarily indoors, locomotives will use wayside power rather than routinely idle, and the facility will include spill-containment measures at fueling locations.

But residents have good reason to look beyond those assurances and examine the record of Amtrak’s existing Chicago maintenance operation.

A documented 2,800-gallon diesel spill, environmental litigation brought by a neighboring property owner, and a 2024 fire and hazardous-materials response all raise questions about how fuel, chemicals, fire risk and other potential hazards have been evaluated for the proposed Canal Street facility.

Those questions deserve answers before construction moves forward.

A 2,800-Gallon Diesel Spill

In January 2019, approximately 2,800 gallons of diesel fuel spilled at Amtrak’s existing Chicago maintenance facility.

The incident is described in a 2021 opinion from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. According to the court, approximately 900 gallons were recovered, leaving about 1,900 gallons unaccounted for.

The spill later became part of a federal lawsuit brought by Continental Paper Grading Co., a neighboring property owner.

A Neighboring Property Owner Sued Amtrak Over Contamination

In 2021, Continental Paper Grading Co. sued Amtrak in federal court.

Continental alleged that spills and releases of hazardous substances from Amtrak’s property had contaminated its property and the Chicago River. Its allegations involved diesel fuel and other substances associated with operations at the yard.

These were allegations made by Continental. In its November 2021 decision, the court was considering Amtrak’s motion to dismiss and therefore treated the allegations as true for purposes of deciding that motion. The decision did not establish that every allegation made by Continental was true.

The court allowed portions of Continental’s case to proceed.

For residents being asked to accept maintenance and fueling operations close to their homes, the history raises an obvious question:

What safeguards will prevent a similar spill or release at Canal Street?

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Document

An Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) record for Amtrak property at Chicago Union Station documents environmental contamination and restrictions on how the property may be used.

Amtrak is proposing to relocate major portions of its Chicago train maintenance and servicing operation to the Canal Street Yard, including fueling, cleaning, inspections and maintenance activities involving diesel fuel, oils, lubricants and other products.

What does the environmental history of Amtrak’s existing Chicago rail operations suggest about the long-term risks of moving these activities next to thousands of residents?

That is a question the environmental review should answer clearly. Residents should be able to see whether the potential for long-term soil, groundwater and other environmental impacts from decades of maintenance and fueling operations was fully evaluated before Canal Street was selected.

View the IEPA Document (PDF)

A 2024 Fire Triggered a Hazardous-Materials Response

On September 25, 2024, a train caught fire at Amtrak’s existing South Lumber Street yard.

According to reports citing the Chicago Fire Department, the incident resulted in an oil spill and triggered a Level 1 hazardous-materials response.

One person suffered minor injuries and was taken to Stroger Hospital.

A fire at one facility does not establish that a fire will occur at another. But the incident demonstrates why residents want to see the fire-safety, emergency-response, fueling and hazardous-materials analyses for the proposed Canal Street facility.

Fueling and Chemicals Are Part of the Proposed Canal Street Operation

Amtrak’s project materials confirm that trains will be fueled at Canal Street.

The project website also discusses materials associated with maintenance operations, including diesel fuel, lubricants and cleaning products.

Amtrak says these materials will be stored and handled in accordance with applicable environmental and safety requirements and that fueling areas will include spill-containment measures.

Residents should not have to rely solely on assurances about how these risks will be managed. They should be able to examine the plans, analyses, and environmental documents themselves.

Underground Storage Tank Records

Illinois State Fire Marshal records identify multiple underground storage tanks at Amtrak's existing service yard. Four tanks, with a combined capacity of 26,000 gallons, are listed as having been abandoned in place. Other tanks, previously used to store diesel fuel, gasoline and various oils, are listed as removed or moved.

The records do not establish that the abandoned tanks leaked or that contamination remains. They do, however, raise questions about the property's environmental history and what testing and remediation may be required as part of its redevelopment.

View Illinois State Fire Marshal Records

What About Air Quality, Noise and Idling?

Amtrak says the proposed facility is designed to reduce outdoor idling by providing wayside power, allowing stationary equipment to be plugged in while engines are shut down.

Amtrak also says its environmental analysis determined that the project falls below applicable federal Clean Air Act conformity thresholds and that its noise and vibration assessment identified no severe noise impacts or vibration impacts.

But the underlying studies are what allow the public and independent experts to evaluate those conclusions.

The project website states that documents including the environmental determination, traffic analysis, noise and vibration assessment, and air-quality materials will be made publicly available.

Release them.

Residents should be able to see the data, assumptions and methodology used to evaluate the effects of placing this operation beside residential neighborhoods.

Why the Existing Yard’s History Matters

No one can predict with certainty whether a spill, fire or other accident will occur at Canal Street.

But we do know what has already happened at Amtrak’s existing Chicago maintenance operation:

A 2,800-gallon diesel spill.

A neighboring property owner brought federal environmental claims alleging contamination associated with Amtrak’s property.

A 2024 train fire resulted in an oil spill and a Chicago Fire Department hazardous-materials response.

These are not hypothetical scenarios invented by residents opposing the project. They are part of the history of the operation Amtrak proposes to replace.

That does not establish that the same events will occur at Canal Street. It does establish why residents are asking detailed questions about fuel storage and handling, spill prevention, fire protection, emergency response, air quality, noise and hazardous materials.

Release the Environmental Record

Amtrak says the Canal Street project has undergone federal environmental review and that the Federal Railroad Administration issued a Categorical Exclusion for the project in May 2026.

The project website also indicates that the environmental determination and supporting studies will be made publicly available.

The community should not have to wait until construction is underway to see the analyses used to determine the potential effects of this project.

Release the environmental determination.

Release the air-quality analysis.

Release the noise and vibration assessment.

Release the traffic analysis.

Release the documents addressing fuel storage, spill prevention, fire safety and emergency response.

Residents, independent experts and public officials should be able to examine the evidence for themselves.

Before a major maintenance and fueling operation is relocated beside homes, parks and residential communities, the public deserves to see the full record.

Sources

Federal court opinion: Continental Paper Grading Co. v. Amtrak
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_21-cv-00224/pdf/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_21-cv-00224-0.pdf

Amtrak Midwest Maintenance Facility project website
https://mwmaintenancefacility.com/