The Surprising Reason Metra Lights Tracks on Fire Each Winter in Illinois

Have you seen videos on social media lately of Metra train tracks on fire in Chicago I thought they were another case of AI slop? Well, they are 100 percent real and exist for a very important reason.

Why Are Train Tracks on Fire in Illinois?

I've lived in Illinois my entire life, and I still learn new things about this state every day.

Today I learned that they light train tracks on fire in Chicago during the winter, and my first reaction was, WHAT?!

READ MORE: Two Winter Hazards Many Illinois Homeowners Miss

In my brain, fire and any type of vehicle should never mix, but the truth is, fire is a necessary evil for keeping Metra trains running during extreme cold and ice.

An article from ABC 7 Chicago says:

Periodically throughout the winter, little fires can be seen on the tracks, which are meant to keep snow and ice off the rails.

This allows the switch points to be thrown and reversed so that trains can traverse from one track to the next.

The flames are actually coming from gas-fed heaters installed along the side of the rails and are used when temps dip well below freezing along with tubular heating systems and warm air blowers.

Why Is It Important to Keep Train Tracks Warm?

Today I also learned that snow and ice on Metra train rails not only lead to schedule delays, but to the tracks actually separating too!

A CNN article says:

In some cases the tracks experience what’s called “pull-aparts.” This kind of rail defect occurs when two rails separate at their connection. The extreme cold shrinks the metal and the rails literally pull apart from each other.

Keeping the tracks warm not only prevents the rails from "pulling apart", but also helps put them back together when they do.

Now that we know why lighting train tracks on fire is important each winter, I still don't think I would ever get used to traveling on a train that is going through fire! What about you?