HOBART | When Marianne Wirtz thought she was having a heart attack about 15 years ago, she couldn't leave her neighborhood because a train was blocking the only two access roads.

Fortunately, Wirtz didn't have a heart attack, but Canadian National trains continue block 69th Avenue and Dekalb Street, making it difficult for her and other residents to enter and exit the neighborhood.

"It's a major, major problem," Hobart Councilwoman Monica Wiley said.

Wiley said the most recent incident took place Wednesday morning when a train blocked the roads for more than two hours.

"What if there was an emergency?"

Wiley said the city hasn't taken much action to resolve the problem, including using a city ordinance that can fine the railroad for blocking the intersections for more than 10 minutes.

She said the city should issue the fines, and she proposes building another access road on the north end of the neighborhood for residents to use when a train is blocking the other roads.

Wirtz has lived on the 5000 block of 69th Avenue for more than 40 years and said the problems have occurred as long as she has lived there.

Her main concern with trains blocking the intersections is when there is an emergency.

"What if we needed an ambulance?" Wirtz said. "They couldn't get through."

Ogden Dunes faced a similar situation about 10 years ago when Conrail blocked the only access to the small town, delaying emergency vehicles from reaching a 74-year-old heart attack victim.

The emergency officials had a four-minute delay when trying to reach the victim, Frank Korpak, because of the blocked access. A second train caused a seven-minute delay when the emergency vehicles were trying to leave the scene.

Korpak was pronounced dead on arrival at Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in Gary.

Conrail received citations for blocking the crossing for more than 10 minutes, and the Porter County prosecutor's office also filed Class B misdemeanor charges against Conrail for obstructing traffic.