Train Tracks Set On Fire To Melt Ice

555 Chicago, IL - If you see fire along Metra tracks on this frigid Wednesday, don't panic. The Chicago area's commuter rail service is fighting the cold with fire to keep switches working, and help with track repairs. Winter weather can cause snow and ice to clog switches, which control which rail trains run on. Clogged switches can bring trains to a halt until the blockage is cleared. To combat the problem, Metra uses a gas-fed system that runs adjacent to the rail, generating heat in areas where switches are supposed to make contact. This system is used in normal winter weather, not just in the extreme cold seen Wednesday, explained spokesman Michael Gillis. The system is turned on when the temperature is between 40 and 32 and stays on when it's below 32.

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