What to do in dangerous CTA platform situations
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The Belmont El station. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
As a frequent CTA rider, I'll admit it: Recent reports about violence on the system have freaked me out.
- They also got me wondering what to do in rare but worrying scenarios.
State of play: Last year, I shared advice for handling problems on trains. But what about on the platform? Like, what do you do if you drop your phone on the tracks?
- And what if you're shoved?
Phone scenario: CTA officials shared this 2023 comic showing what not to do if you drop valuables on the tracks.
The right answer: Contact a CTA employee to help you safely retrieve it.
Case in point: Carrie once dropped her phone on the tracks, watched the train whoosh by and discovered her phone was still OK.
- She sought out CTA help and a staffer grabbed it for her.
Shoved into the tracks: If a train isn't immediately approaching, your main goal is to avoid the third rail — typically the farthest rail from the platform.
- It carries 600 volts and can be deadly.
Tip two: Ask someone to alert a CTA employee, who can signal coming trains, cut power and call for help.
Tip three: If you're able, assess your injuries and try to climb out with help from others nearby.
- Emergency ladders are typically located at the ends of platforms.
Between the lines: CTA officials weren't thrilled with the shoving question and stressed that these incidents are extremely rare.
- The roughly 60 riders who've been shoved onto the tracks over the past five years represent a tiny fraction of those who rode the system during that period. And none of those incidents proved fatal.
- Officials remind that it's illegal and very dangerous to intentionally enter this restricted area.