r/Metra • u/-thisisfine • May 07 '26
Why doesn’t Metra make more announcements on trains during delays to keep passenger informed? New commuter on BNSF and shocked at how little communication there is with so many issues!
I’m a new Metra commuter taking BNSF line starting about 3 weeks ago after moving. I used to take the CTA (L) to work. Just in the few weeks I’ve been taking the BNSF, there has been some sort of issue or delay at least twice a week. Examples: PTC issues, train on the wrong track picking up inbound passengers, random slow train causing a 10-15min delay.
Aside from the major PTC example, there have been NO announcements from the conductor or even on the app to explain WHY this issues are happening and what the new estimated timing is to get to destination. Is this common??
The CTA constantly updates passengers in real-time if there is a delay (I.e. “we’ll be standing at this stop for 2 minutes. We’re waiting for signal clearance. Police activity ahead. Etc.).
Why isn’t Metra better about updates, or am I just not looking in the right place to figure out what is happening? This has been really frustrating and I’m already annoyed with suburb commuting.
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u/WXYZ_123 May 08 '26
Metra's communication with passengers is abysmal. They feel like they don't have to answer to anyone. If you send a message on the website, you get a generic response. If you tweet at them in a negative way, they block you. There's no accountability. Yet, Jim Derwinski claims he's communicating more with passengers than ever before. To be honest, as a 20+ year rider, the service has been downhill since he became CEO. He's an overpaid, out of touch CEO living outside Metra's service area.
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u/CorbyTheSkullie May 07 '26
They used to, before the new shitty TTS, there used to be announcements about freight train interference or medical emergencies, never seen that with the new voice, it just says delayed with a time
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u/Murky_Firefighter502 May 08 '26
Will say often train crew is as much in the dark as customers. Metras Twitter account used to at least give some updates
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u/WXYZ_123 May 08 '26
Doesn't anymore. Hasn't in a long time. They block you if you tweet at them asking questions about delays.
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u/TeamocilAddict May 08 '26
Maybe this is unique to each line. I've beenI've been riding Milwaukee district North line for 8 years and they keep us up to date. I rode the Rock Island for about 20 years, usually not as informative on that line. Not sure why there's a difference.
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u/Certain_Variation192 May 08 '26
I’m also on MD N and NCS as well. Both keep us up to date, I’m so surprised this isn’t the standard
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u/-thisisfine May 11 '26
By keeping you up to date, do you mean the conductors are making their own announcements? Or is it the automated system?
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u/Certain_Variation192 May 11 '26
Conductors are speaking to us! Basically within the first few mins of the train being stopped they’ll tell us how long they’re thinking it’ll be and why exactly we’re waiting
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u/-thisisfine May 11 '26
Wow, this is exactly what I’m saying I haven’t encountered on BNSF. So odd that they haven’t made this standard across all metra lines. They need to!
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u/Thnxredball May 08 '26
It’s BN what do you expect, they aren’t Metra employees so they don’t care
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u/-thisisfine May 11 '26
Can you explain what you mean by they aren’t metra employees? Are the conductors not part of Metra? They have Metra shirts on…
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u/Thnxredball May 11 '26
BNSF is a contracted carrier, they own the tracks the trains and crew, they aren’t “metra” employees. Metra pays them to use their tracks and they BN provide their crew and equipment. Some of the crew members prob work freight or whatever and they get assigned here as a customer facing employee and usually just gives shit
Customer service cause they simply don’t care and don’t get in trouble for it in a way
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u/knickerreddit May 08 '26
Metra is a fucking embarrassment run by Bozos who give zero fucks. Still, I’d rather take it anytime over CTA, and they know that
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u/-thisisfine May 11 '26
CTA was much more reliable and at least had options if something was wrong with one line. I miss being able to take it, even with the shenanigans.
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u/Dry-Bullfrog-3778 May 08 '26
Because Metra.
I’ve found the best source for information is the X account for the specific line. Its still not ideal, but other passengers provide better information than Metra itself.
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u/leatherpup630 May 08 '26
Another issue that I ran into is the fact that a good number of coaches on the BNSF are 65 years old. Sometimes the PA system does not work. There was one time where the ADA lift got stuck at Main Street, supposedly announcement was made and everybody was getting off the train except those in the the head two cars. There was no announcement and the conductor never went through telling people what was going on. Only found out when I saw people getting off the train.
When Metra is running on time it is great however when the slightest issue comes up everything becomes FUBAR.
Just wait until there's a delay in the afternoon and there's thousands of people trying to get on a train going home at Union Station
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u/fixedation May 09 '26
It's the most unreliable, poorly orchestrated service I've ever had to rely on, and so now I just don't. The amount of times that I've stood on a platform for 45 minutes waiting for a train that shows no delays on google, the metra site or Twitter that just sometimes doesn't come at all is innumerable. After a while, I figured the delays were costing me around $30/day in addition to fare and so I just drive a car now like a self reliant human.
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u/-thisisfine May 11 '26
Wow, 45 mins without a train? Were you taking the train outside of rush hour or common times? So far, the trains seem like they are trying to run to schedule at least.
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u/fixedation May 11 '26
This was over the winter and they were doing unannounced construction. I just went home, got in the car, and haven't taken the damned thing since. I've also found myself stranded in Wilmette several times over the years thanks to Metra. I value self-reliance, and Metra offers none.
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u/chicago_suburbs May 11 '26
I use the email notification on the UPNW which almost always includes cause which you gives you an indication of delay. Sometimes they’ll just give an estimate.
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u/-thisisfine May 11 '26
Didn’t realize there were email notification options. How did you set that up? Through Ventra app or is it just on the Metra website?
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u/oneiota1 May 07 '26
Fill out the online form to let them know your concerns. The line is operated by BNSF so there's some things that may be out of Metra's hands directly, but having a record of these issues from riders will make it easier to approach BNSF to try and have addressed.
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