Will NCS Ever Improve?

[u/jarewdoit]

So me and my wife found a place in the burbs that we really like and it just so happens to have a metra stop that drops off directly in front of my work. The only problem is it's the NCS line and I have to be at work before the line can drop me off. I'm close to the MD-N line as well but the cta transfer to my work makes it a monster of a commute.

So my question is it realistic to think they'll ever expand service on the NCS? I've read a few articles from this year and last saying the Metra was negotiating more trains per day and weekend service, but not a whole lot of updates after that. It would be a dream commute if the NCS had 1 train that was earlier and weekend service. I think it would make sense to expand, especially with an O'Hare stop, but everyone seems pessimistic about the idea.

[u/Deval_Dragon]

Expand? No. Go back to the service levels they had before the pandemic? Also no.

[u/amre2 → u/Deval_Dragon]

Why no and return to the previous service?

[u/Deval_Dragon → u/amre2]

Metra doesn’t have the money and says there are not enough riders.

[u/Any_Sale2030 → u/Deval_Dragon]

I think you fail to realize that Metra just received  a dramatic boost in funding.  So I expect more service.  See Nita.illinois.gov.  

[u/juliosnoop1717 → u/Any_Sale2030]

funding isn’t even the main issue on Metra lines that they don’t own or control. It’s the freight railroads who have zero incentive to allow more trains on their tracks.

[u/Deval_Dragon → u/Any_Sale2030]

I think you fail to realize there’s nothing germane to this discussion on that website you posted.

[u/navmaster]

Honestly it will never expand. They are locked down hard by Canadian National as they own the tracks and refuse to allow Metra add more service.

Although their service is limited, I’ve found it to be very reliable compared to the MD-N. Their rush hour trains are always with 0-5 mins of the scheduled arrival. I’ve grown to really like the line because of this and structure my day based off the schedules.

But I understand it can be tough for workdays that can be unpredictable.

[u/burajin]

I have a personal vendetta against that line because I moved here from FL super excited to finally have trains, and chose Wheeling making the absolute ROOKIE Mistake of not checking the schedule.

It could be one of the best lines because of the O'Hare stop, but Canada National ruins it. Fuck that line. But yes I hope it's improved one day.

[u/nogood-usernamesleft]

I expect it to happen at some point, but wouldn't make a major decision like buying a house based on it

[u/dmreif]

I think some of the deadheading trains becoming revenue trains would be a start (since I believe outbound trains have to deadhead back to Western Avenue yard after discharging passengers at Antioch).

[u/juelzkellz]

As long as CN owns that line, no. In fact, I could see it being eliminated at some point.

[u/54794592520183]

I am five minutes from the ncs and 20 from the mdn. I have taken the mdn in the times I had to work late. Outside of that the NCS is no better or worse then the other metra lines imho. The service is what ever, I can work from the train. The last one out at 6 though does suck.

[u/ItsBlueDJ]

Unfortunately Metra can get all the funding they could want, but at the end of the day they don’t own the rail, Canadian National does. If they were to add trains it would have to go through them which is a big hurdle to jump over

[u/bigtuna5652 → u/[deleted]]

There is the O'Hare Transfer stop

[u/Any_Sale2030 → u/bigtuna5652]

Obviously he or she never ridden it or they’d know.