Video: Chicago crews set commuter rail tracks on fire due to freezing weather

Jan 31, 2019

By Herb Scribner

There are some wickedly cold temperatures through the Midwest this week.

Right now, much of the Midwest is suffering from sub-zero temperatures. Chicago, for example, is seeing minus 23 degrees temperatures, while Minnesota is feeling icy temps because of the deep freeze.

Getting to work proved to be a hassle for many Chicago residents Tuesday — so much so that officials had to set fire to the commuter rail tracks to keep trains moving.

Watch a video of the crews burning the tracks below, courtesy of ABC News.

It’s so cold in Chicago, crews had to set fire to commuter rail tracks to keep the trains moving smoothly. https://t.co/ccrTwwwO6C pic.twitter.com/av7o5opEQ8

— ABC News (@ABC) January 30, 2019

Chicago is expected to see these cold temperatures through Thursday.

“I don’t want to go outside, but I’m a dog walker, so I have to,” Chicago resident Mike Canjami told ABC News. “I’m from Boston. I thought Boston was pretty cold — until I came to Chicago.”