Union Station hit by broken pipe for 2nd time in a week

A broken water pipe has caused flooding at Chicago's Union Station for the second time this week, officials said.

About 4 p.m. we had another break in the sprinkler system, in nearly the same place it occurred earlier this week, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said.

Pipes running in the ceiling overhead burst, leaving a pool about 2 inches deep and 40 feet by 40 feet wide.

No one was injured or splashed by the water, which is not drinkable but used to put out fires.

At 5 p.m., water was still being sopped up and the lead shut off.

The latest flooding was not immediately affecting trains or commuters, according to Metra spokesman Michael Gillis.

Metra was notified by Amtrak that a water main leak had flooded the south concourse, and maintenance workers were called to the scene, Gillis said.

Metra and Amtrak officials were assisting commuters wishing to depart on BNSF, SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor trains on tracks 6 and 8.

Friday's water line break was the second such incident at Union Station this week.

Magliari said the sprinkler pipes in the ceiling above the south concourse area were damaged during last winter's polar vortex, and again this week by the subzero temperatures.

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Union Station hit by broken pipe for 2nd time in a week