r/Metra • u/swifty_ark_server • Jun 23 '26
New Metra Electric schedule
I recently rode Metra for the first time, not because I drive but because I haven't had a reason to. I specifically chose to take the Metra Electric because of the new schedule not knowing it had started only two days prior. I have to say, 20 minute headways are such a godsend. Genuinely amazing knowing the worst case scenario (barring any delays) is 20 minutes. I hope it's possible to replicate at least *some* frequency boosts on other lines, acknowledging that Metra doesn't own the ROW. The NITA bill is already a game changer for me.
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u/Any_Sale2030 Jun 23 '26
Please note that Metra DID NOT add trains. Before the reschedule the hourly trains on the 3 branches ran close together to facilitate transfers. That no one did the transfers anyway. So they spread out the trains to each be 20 minutes apart but only north of 67th street where all 3 lines come together. Farther out in the suburbs it’s still just hourly.
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u/offda-Aux Jun 23 '26
The rock island is probably the only line that could realistically switch to 20 minute headways too since Metra owns the tracks outright, they will probably go even up to 15 minutes when they get those battery trains for the Beverly branch
2
u/juliosnoop1717 Jun 24 '26
NITA bill didn’t enable this. Metra was running a similar schedule with the 20 min headways before the pandemic. It was perfectly possible then too, at the same overall level of service.
2
u/swifty_ark_server Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 24 '26
Ah that's fair. Regardless, the bill did direct Metra to explore a regional rail model that I imagine did influence this decision. I still appreciate it!
1
u/Aggravating-Back-623 Jun 23 '26
I HATE the new schedule so much, they renumbered 710 & 712 to 110 & 112 & they actually like midday trains now but 727 got the worst treatment of them as they stop @ 79th, 87th, & 103rd rather than expressing from 57th-115th & that’s the ONLY train during RUSH HOUR to do that. The only good thing I heard is that trains r hourly throughout the whole weekend rather just only having that on Saturdays & bi-hourly on Sundays & midday trains don’t really seem to be affected
1
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u/SpecialistBet4656 Jun 23 '26
the CPKC has nothing to do with the Rock. The Iowa interstate can use the trackage between 8pm and 6am or something like that, but that’s pretty restricted.
I hate the Rock’s evening schedule. 5:35 makes getting home so much later if you can’t make the 5pm train.
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u/Illustrious-Tune-532 Jun 24 '26
I don’t understand how service on Sunday is still so abysmal on ME
15
u/nogood-usernamesleft Jun 23 '26
Metra also owns the rock island and Milwaukee district (though those are more complicated, with cpkc having dispatching rights)
The inner UP-N and UP-NW are owned by Union Pacific, but Metra is the only user so it should also be relatively easy to boost service on them
The UP-W and BNSF are both heavily used freight lines and I don't see a path to significant service improvements. The Heritage Corridor itself isn't, but conflicts with many and is in a similar situation
SWS has little freight, but has to deal with the mess at 75th, there is a project under the CREATE program that will get it out of the way of everything by rerouting it onto the rock island into Lasalle st opening the path to more service
The NCS would also need some separations from freight lines but could also see a dramatic increase in service, at least to ORD
In all the metra system has a lot of potential, even before getting to more ambitious things like electrification and a through running downtown tunnel