NATO summit could shut down train service

CHICAGO, March 29 (UPI) -- Chicago officials say they are worried the U.S. Secret Service's possible plan to shut down rail service for the NATO summit could put out commuters.

The summit, scheduled for May 20-21, could shut down rail service beneath McCormick Place as a safety measure for the world leaders who will be meeting there.

Transit officials said Wednesday the measure would impact South Shore and Metra Electric lines as well as Amtrak and Canadian National Railway service.

Gerald Hanas, general manager of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which operates South Shore, said the transit authority has disputed the matter with the Secret Service.

"Our concern is our ability to get enough word out for passengers to plan their activities around the potential cessation of service," Hanas told the Chicago Sun-Times. "We would have to plan whether or not we would have a two-day layoff of train personnel and whether we could do that under the contract. Is there any federal agency that would reimburse us for those lost revenues and expenses we'd be forced to pay?"

Officials say even shuttle service to compensate for the shutdown would be out of the question, for similar security reasons. Commuters using the South Shore line would be on their own.