Metra
Encyclopedia
Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago
and its metropolitan area through 240 stations
on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States
by average weekday passenger trips. Experiencing an average growth of 1.6% in ridership per year, Metra trains offered 81.4 million passenger rides in 2010.
Utilizing Chicago's rich rail infrastructure founded in the 19th century, the Illinois General Assembly
established the RTA, and later Metra, to service commuters by railroad. Metra's creation was a result of the anticipated failure of commuter service operated and owned by various freight rail transportation companies in the 1970s. Freight rail companies still operate some routes; however, these operations are guided by contract
ed service agreements. Metra owns all rolling stock
and is responsible for all stations along with the respective municipalities. Since its inception, Metra has directed more than $5 billion into the commuter rail system of the Chicago metropolitan area.
By the 1930s Chicago had the world's largest public transportation system, but commuter rail services had slowly started to decline from the mid to late 1960s. By the mid 1970s, the commuter lines faced an uncertain future. The Burlington Northern, Milwaukee Road, Chicago and North Western, Illinois Central were losing money and railroads were still using passenger cars from as far back as the 1920s.
formed the Regional Transportation Authority in 1974. Its purpose was to fund and plan the Chicago region's public transportation. In the beginning the Regional Transportation Authority commuter train fleet consisted of second-hand equipment, until 1976 when the first order of new EMD F40PH
locomotives arrived. That F40PH fleet is still in service today.
Less than a decade later the Regional Transportation Authority was already suffering from ongoing financial problems. In 1983 the Illinois Legislature reorganized the agency. That reorganization left the Regional Transportation Authority in charge of day to day operations of all bus, heavy rail and commuter rail services throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. It was also responsible for directing fare and service levels, setting up budgets, finding sources for capital investment and planning.
Metra's operating arm, the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation, was created as a separate rail subsidiary which operates seven Metra owned routes. Contracts were setup with the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads to operate four other Metra routes. While Metra owns all rolling stock and is responsible for most stations on those routes, the freight carriers use their own employees and control the right-of-way for those routes. In keeping with Metra's purpose to provide a single identity for commuter rail in Chicagoland, the freight operators provide service under the Metra name.
. By 2006 it added new intermediate stops to that same route, extended the Union Pacific West line from Geneva to Elburn, and extended SouthWest Service from Orland Park to Manhattan. In 2010 it boasted 95.9% average on time performance. It also posted its fourth highest volume in its history despite decreases in employment opportunities in downtown Chicago.
While there was success related to ridership increases and service expansion, Metra has been marred by corruption allegations and investigations. In April 2010 Metra's executive director, Phil Pagano, was being investigated for taking an unauthorized $56,000 bonus and was later found to have improperly received $475,000 in vacation pay. Pagano stepped in front of a moving Metra train on May 7, 2010 in an apparent suicide. Around the time of Pagano's death, allegations also surfaced that a Metra employee demanded a $2,000 payoff from the studio that used Metra in the 2011 film Source Code
. That employee was later relieved of his duties.
Despite these setbacks Metra continues to seek expansion options and to improve passenger service. Over the past three decades, Metra has invested more than $5 billion into its infrastructure. That investment has been used to purchase new rolling stock, build new stations, renovate tracks, modernize signal systems and upgrade support facilities. In addition to core improvements on the Union Pacific Northwest
and Union Pacific West
routes, planning progresses on two new Metra routes, SouthEast Service
and the Suburban Transit Access Route.
Chicago's four downtown stations servicing Metra trains are Union Station
, Ogilvie Transportation Center
, LaSalle Street Station
and Millennium Station. All of these stations are situated inside or within a block of the Chicago Loop
, so Metra passengers may also transfer to a different Metra line upon their arrival downtown. Metra's urban-centric service remains popular with suburban commuters working downtown, reverse commute
rs, and those who visit Chicago for recreational activities and tourism
.
. The Union Pacific/North, Union Pacific/Northwest and Union Pacific/West lines are operated by the Union Pacific Railroad
. Lines not contracted are operated by the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Rail Corporation (NIRC), Metra's operating subsidiary.
█ BNSF Railway Line
█ Heritage Corridor
█ Metra Electric District
█ Milwaukee District/North Line
:
█ Milwaukee District/West Line
█ North Central Service
█ Rock Island District
█ SouthWest Service
█ Union Pacific/North Line
:
█ Union Pacific/Northwest Line
█ Union Pacific/West Line
consists of a rich public transportation infrastructure allowing for intermodal connections
to local, regional, national and international transportation services. Parking lot
s are available adjacent to most suburban Metra stations for passengers connecting with their train by car
. Most parking lots are operated by the municipality they are located in. Fees and fines are also assessed by the local municipality; however, parking is usually free on weekends and most holidays. Mass transit CTA
and suburban Pace
busses connect with many Metra stations downtown and in the suburbs. Monthly pass holders are offered link-up options with these services. In addition, many intercity bus
lines connect with passengers outside of Union Station.
Chicago 'L'
subway and elevated trains also connect with Metra trains at some Chicago stations. Most 'L' lines traverse the Loop allowing nearby access to all downtown Metra terminals. Some stations, such as the Jefferson Park Transit Center, provide transfer points to Chicago 'L' stations outside of the Loop. 'L' trains announce downtown Metra connections onboard when announcing the next 'L' stop. Amtrak
intercity trains depart alongside Metra trains at Union Station. In addition to Illinois Service
and Hiawatha Service to Milwaukee, Amtrak trains run nationwide including service to states spanning both coastlines. Passengers connecting from Ogilvie Transportation Center can access Union Station through its north platforms on the opposite side of Madison Street
.
Fare is determined by the distance travelled by a passenger. Each station along every route has been placed in a specific zone based on its distance from its respective downtown station. Downtown termini and downtown stations are classified as zone 'A' and each additional zone generally represents an added 5 miles (8 km) from the downtown terminus. Multiple stations can be placed in the same zone even though they are on the same line.
s, youth
, senior citizen
s, members of the United States Armed Forces
, and persons with disabilities
may qualify for these programs. Time-based and geographical restrictions apply to these programs and passengers must ensure they qualify before attempting to purchase special tickets or ride for free.
Metra employees, the Metra Police Department
, and other public safety agencies are responsible for maintaining safety and security on its lines, aboard its trains and at stations all to various degrees. Although rail transport is one of the safest forms of land travel, compromises to Metra's safety and security can occur through pedestrian accidents, suicide
attempts, vehicle collisions, derailment
, terrorism
, and other incidents
. Failing to maintain safety and security can result in equipment and infrastructure damage, extensive service disruptions, traumatic injuries, and loss of life
. Therefore Metra and other agencies consider safety a top priority and dedicate a significant amount of resources to combat these dangers.
s and is responsible for the safety of all routes and stations. In an effort to help coordinate emergency preparedness and incident management
, all Metra police officers are certified in the National Incident Management System
. In addition, the Metra police work with the Chicago Police Department
as a member of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy
. Only one Metra police officer has been killed in the line of duty.
s, use of grade crossing signals
, and horn blasts
make up a critical system used to communicate movements of commuter trains to pedestrians and vehicles.
Outside of these operational components, Metra aggressively pursues safety through public awareness. Metra utilizes its own Operation Lifesaver
program and uses it to help spread safety messages. Metra also holds events promoting rail safety at schools and organizes a safety poster contest awarding winners with prizes and features their poster on monthly passes and at stations.
Metra has been honored with several E. H. Harriman Awards for employee safety, most recently with a Bronze award in class B (line-haul railroads with between 4 and 15 million employee hours per year) for 2005. Previous Harriman Awards conferred to Metra include Gold awards for 2003 and 2004 and a Silver award for 2002.
The worst passenger rail disaster in Illinois occurred prior to the formation of Regional Transportation Authority. The 1972 Chicago commuter rail crash consisted of a two train collision on track now used for the Metra Electric District. The collision resulted in 45 deaths and 332 injuries. Several decades later, Metra experienced its first rail disaster, the 1995 Fox River Grove bus–train collision. This accident involved a collision of a Metra train and a school bus
at a grade crossing resulting in 21 injuries and the deaths of seven high school students.
In addition to the loss of life, injuries, damage, and service disruptions caused by accidents, Metra and other transportation agencies have been involved in multi-million dollar lawsuit
s and settlements stemming from safety failures. These failures have also resulted in updated safety policies and adjustments of equipment and warning devices.
s.
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Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and its metropolitan area through 240 stations
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by average weekday passenger trips. Experiencing an average growth of 1.6% in ridership per year, Metra trains offered 81.4 million passenger rides in 2010.
Utilizing Chicago's rich rail infrastructure founded in the 19th century, the Illinois General Assembly
Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
established the RTA, and later Metra, to service commuters by railroad. Metra's creation was a result of the anticipated failure of commuter service operated and owned by various freight rail transportation companies in the 1970s. Freight rail companies still operate some routes; however, these operations are guided by contract
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
ed service agreements. Metra owns all rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
and is responsible for all stations along with the respective municipalities. Since its inception, Metra has directed more than $5 billion into the commuter rail system of the Chicago metropolitan area.
Early Chicago commuter rail
Since the 19th century Chicago has been the main hub of the North American rail network. Because of its central role, Chicago has more trackage radiating in more directions than any other city in North America. During the early history of commuter railroads in Chicago, railroad companies set up their headquarters in the city and Chicago became a major hub for manufacturing of freight cars, passenger cars and diesel locomotives. Commuter rail service was born when Chicago area rail freight companies offered passenger services.By the 1930s Chicago had the world's largest public transportation system, but commuter rail services had slowly started to decline from the mid to late 1960s. By the mid 1970s, the commuter lines faced an uncertain future. The Burlington Northern, Milwaukee Road, Chicago and North Western, Illinois Central were losing money and railroads were still using passenger cars from as far back as the 1920s.
Formation of the RTA
To provide stability to the commuter rail system, the Illinois General AssemblyIllinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
formed the Regional Transportation Authority in 1974. Its purpose was to fund and plan the Chicago region's public transportation. In the beginning the Regional Transportation Authority commuter train fleet consisted of second-hand equipment, until 1976 when the first order of new EMD F40PH
EMD F40PH
-Amtrak NPCU Conversions:In later years, as Amtrak's F40PH fleet was being replaced by the newer GE Genesis-series locomotives, Amtrak converted a number of the retired units—generally ones with major mechanical problems limiting their value in the resale or lease marketplace—into "Non-Power...
locomotives arrived. That F40PH fleet is still in service today.
Less than a decade later the Regional Transportation Authority was already suffering from ongoing financial problems. In 1983 the Illinois Legislature reorganized the agency. That reorganization left the Regional Transportation Authority in charge of day to day operations of all bus, heavy rail and commuter rail services throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. It was also responsible for directing fare and service levels, setting up budgets, finding sources for capital investment and planning.
Metra branding
Due to the broad range of responsibilities entrusted with the Regional Transportation Authority, the Commuter Rail Service Board introduced the Metra brand in 1984. The newly reorganized Metra service helped to bring a single identity to the many infrastructure components serviced by the Regional Transportation Authority's commuter rail system.Metra's operating arm, the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation, was created as a separate rail subsidiary which operates seven Metra owned routes. Contracts were setup with the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads to operate four other Metra routes. While Metra owns all rolling stock and is responsible for most stations on those routes, the freight carriers use their own employees and control the right-of-way for those routes. In keeping with Metra's purpose to provide a single identity for commuter rail in Chicagoland, the freight operators provide service under the Metra name.
Growth, corruption and expansion
In the late 20th and early 21st century Metra experienced record ridership and expanded its services. In 1996 Metra organized its first new line, North Central ServiceNorth Central Service
The North Central Service is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the North Central Service line are printed in light "Soo...
. By 2006 it added new intermediate stops to that same route, extended the Union Pacific West line from Geneva to Elburn, and extended SouthWest Service from Orland Park to Manhattan. In 2010 it boasted 95.9% average on time performance. It also posted its fourth highest volume in its history despite decreases in employment opportunities in downtown Chicago.
While there was success related to ridership increases and service expansion, Metra has been marred by corruption allegations and investigations. In April 2010 Metra's executive director, Phil Pagano, was being investigated for taking an unauthorized $56,000 bonus and was later found to have improperly received $475,000 in vacation pay. Pagano stepped in front of a moving Metra train on May 7, 2010 in an apparent suicide. Around the time of Pagano's death, allegations also surfaced that a Metra employee demanded a $2,000 payoff from the studio that used Metra in the 2011 film Source Code
Source code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...
. That employee was later relieved of his duties.
Despite these setbacks Metra continues to seek expansion options and to improve passenger service. Over the past three decades, Metra has invested more than $5 billion into its infrastructure. That investment has been used to purchase new rolling stock, build new stations, renovate tracks, modernize signal systems and upgrade support facilities. In addition to core improvements on the Union Pacific Northwest
Union Pacific/Northwest Line
The Union Pacific/Northwest is a commuter rail line provided by Metra and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs...
and Union Pacific West
Union Pacific/West Line
The Union Pacific/West is a commuter rail line provided by Metra and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs...
routes, planning progresses on two new Metra routes, SouthEast Service
SouthEast Service (Metra)
The SouthEast Service is a proposed commuter rail line which would be provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs. The route of the proposed line would use tracks owned by CSX Transportation and the Union Pacific Railroad, but the service would not be operated...
and the Suburban Transit Access Route.
Service
Stations
Metra services passengers through stations throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Each station, unless a route or branch terminus, provides travel towards (inbound) and away (outbound) from downtown Chicago. Therefore a passenger can connect between the city and a suburb or between two points in the suburbs using Metra service. Although Metra's commuter rail system is designed to connect points all over the Chicago metropolitan area, it does provide some intracity connections within Chicago.Chicago's four downtown stations servicing Metra trains are Union Station
Union Station (Chicago)
Union Station is a major train station that opened in 1925 in Chicago, replacing an earlier 1881 station. It is now the only intercity rail terminal in Chicago, as well as being the city's primary terminal for commuter trains. The station stands on the west side of the Chicago River between Adams...
, Ogilvie Transportation Center
Ogilvie Transportation Center
The Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center is a passenger terminal in downtown Chicago, Illinois, USA, serving the three commuter rail lines of Metra's Union Pacific District, which approach the terminal elevated above street level. It occupies the lower floors of the Citigroup Center...
, LaSalle Street Station
LaSalle Street Station
LaSalle Street Station is a commuter rail terminal at 414 S. LaSalle Street in downtown Chicago, Illinois, serving Metra's Rock Island District. It was a major intercity rail terminal for the New York Central Railroad until 1968 and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad until 1978. The...
and Millennium Station. All of these stations are situated inside or within a block of the Chicago Loop
Chicago Loop
The Loop or Chicago Loop is one of 77 officially designated Chicago community areas located in the City of Chicago, Illinois. It is the historic commercial center of downtown Chicago...
, so Metra passengers may also transfer to a different Metra line upon their arrival downtown. Metra's urban-centric service remains popular with suburban commuters working downtown, reverse commute
Reverse commute
A reverse commute is a round trip, regularly taken, from a metropolitan area to a suburban one in the morning, and returning in the evening. It is almost universally applied to the trip to work in the suburbs from home in the city...
rs, and those who visit Chicago for recreational activities and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
.
Routes
Of Metra's 11 routes, four are operated under contract. The BNSF Line service is operated by BNSF RailwayBNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
. The Union Pacific/North, Union Pacific/Northwest and Union Pacific/West lines are operated by the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
. Lines not contracted are operated by the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Rail Corporation (NIRC), Metra's operating subsidiary.
█ BNSF Railway Line
BNSF Railway Line
The BNSF Railway Line is a commuter rail line in the United States, provided by Metra and operated by the BNSF Railway in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs...
- The BNSF Railway Line is Metra's busiest route. The 37.5 mile (60 km) route serving Chicago and its western suburbs served an average of 64,600 passenger trips every weekday in 2010. The line serves 26 stations, terminating downtown at Union Station and extending to AuroraAurora (Metra)The Aurora Transportation Center is a station on Metra's BNSF Railway Line in Aurora, Illinois. The station is from Union Station, the east end of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Aurora is in zone H. There is a staffed station building....
. - The BNSF Railway' Line's HollywoodHollywood (Metra)Hollywood is one of three stations on Metra's BNSF Railway Line in Brookfield, Illinois. The station is from Union Station, the east end of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Hollywood is in zone C. An unstaffed shelter is on the north side of the three tracks.Hollywood Station is the...
station is within walking distance of Chicago's Brookfield ZooBrookfield ZooThe Brookfield Zoo is zoo located in the Chicago suburb of Brookfield, Illinois. The zoo covers an area of and houses around 450 species of animals....
.
█ Heritage Corridor
Heritage Corridor
The Heritage Corridor Line is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the Heritage Corridor line are printed in dark "Alton...
- The Heritage Corridor is a 37.2 mile (60 km) route serving Chicago and its southwest suburbs. The line serves 6 stations, terminating downtown at Union Station and extending to Joliet. The line served an average of 2,600 passenger trips every weekday in 2010.
- The Metra Electric District is a 40.6 mile (65 km) route serving Chicago and its south suburbs. The line serves 49 stations, with two branches, terminating downtown at Millennium Station and extending to University ParkUniversity Park (Metra)University Park is a station on Metra's Metra Electric line located in University Park, Illinois. University Park is the southern terminus of the Metra Electric main line and is away from the northern terminus at Randolph Street Station. The station is located at 1900 University Parkway...
, Blue IslandBlue Island (Metra)The Blue Island Metra station is located on the Metra Electric Metra line which runs from downtown Chicago, Illinois to Blue Island, Illinois. It is in Zone D according to Metra fee schedules based on distance from downtown Chicago...
and South ChicagoSouth Chicago (93rd Street) (Metra)The South Chicago Metra Electric Line station is located on East 93rd St and South Baltimore Avenue in Chicago's South Chicago neighborhood. The station provides transport services to Chicago's South Chicago, South Deering, Hegewisch, and East Side neighborhoods...
at the ends of its branches. The line served an average of 36,200 passenger trips every weekday in 2010. - A number of major Chicago attractions are serviced by the Metra Electric District. Chicago's Museum CampusMuseum Campus ChicagoMuseum Campus Chicago is a lakefront park in Chicago that surrounds three of the city's most notable museums, all dedicated to the natural sciences: the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Field Museum of Natural History...
, including the Shedd AquariumShedd AquariumThe John G. Shedd Aquarium is an indoor public aquarium in Chicago, Illinois in the United States that opened on May 30, 1930. The aquarium contains over 25,000 fish, and was for some time the largest indoor aquarium in the world with of water. The Shedd Aquarium was the first inland aquarium with...
, Field Museum of Natural HistoryField Museum of Natural HistoryThe Field Museum of Natural History is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It sits on Lake Shore Drive next to Lake Michigan, part of a scenic complex known as the Museum Campus Chicago...
, Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum, and Soldier FieldSoldier FieldSoldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
are all within walking distance of the Museum Campus/11th Street station. Metra Electric District trains also provide direct service to McCormick PlaceMcCormick PlaceMcCormick Place is the largest convention center in the United States. It is made up of four interconnected buildings sited on and near the shore of Lake Michigan, about 4 km south of downtown Chicago, Illinois, USA. McCormick Place hosts numerous trade shows, including the Chicago Auto Show,...
at the McCormick Place stationMcCormick Place (Metra)The McCormick Place Station is a commuter rail station in Chicago underneath McCormick Place, Chicago's main convention center, that serves the Metra Electric Line north to the Millennium Station and south to University Park, Blue Island, and South Chicago; and the South Shore Line to Gary and...
which is directly below the convention center. The 55th-56th-57th Street station is within walking distance of the Museum of Science and IndustryMuseum of Science and Industry (Chicago)The Museum of Science and Industry is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA in Jackson Park, in the Hyde Park neighborhood adjacent to Lake Michigan. It is housed in the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition...
and the DuSable Museum of African American History.
█ Milwaukee District/North Line
Milwaukee District/North Line
The Milwaukee District/North is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs...
:
- Milwaukee District North is a 49.5 mile (80 km) route serving Chicago and its northern suburbs. The line serves 22 stations, terminating downtown at Union Station and extending to Fox LakeFox Lake (Metra)Fox Lake is a station on Metra's Milwaukee District/North Line in Fox Lake, Illinois. The station is located on Nippersink Boulevard at Grand Avenue , is away from Union Station, the southern terminus of the line, and serves commuters between Union Station and Fox Lake, Illinois...
. The line served an average of 23,500 passenger trips every weekday in 2010.
█ Milwaukee District/West Line
Milwaukee District/West Line
The Milwaukee District/West is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs...
- Milwaukee District West is a 39.8 mile (64 km) route serving Chicago and its western suburbs. The line serves 22 stations, terminating downtown at Union Station and extending to Big Timber RoadBig Timber Road (Metra)Big Timber Road is a commuter railroad station in the Kane County portion of Elgin, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. It is the western terminus for Metra's Milwaukee District/West Line, with service to Union Station in downtown Chicago....
. During off-peak hours service on the Milwaukee District West line terminates at ElginElgin (Metra)Elgin is one of three stations on Metra's Milwaukee District/West in Elgin, Illinois. The station is away from Union Station, the eastern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Elgin is in zone H.-Bus connections:Pace...
. The line served an average of 22,300 passenger trips every weekday in 2010.
█ North Central Service
North Central Service
The North Central Service is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the North Central Service line are printed in light "Soo...
- North Central Service is a 52.8 mile (85 km) route serving Chicago, its northern and northwest suburbs with trains operating on weekdays only. The line serves 18 stations, terminating downtown at Union Station and extending to AntiochAntioch (Metra)Antioch is a station on Metra's North Central Service in Antioch, Illinois. The station is away from Union Station, the southern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Antioch is in zone K....
. The line served an average of 5,400 passenger trips every weekday in 2010. - North Central's O'Hare TransferO'Hare Transfer (Metra)O'Hare Transfer is a commuter railroad station along Metra's North Central Service that serves Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The station is away from Union Station, the southern terminus of the line...
station provides a connection to O'Hare International AirportO'Hare International AirportChicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
and is within walking distance of the Allstate ArenaAllstate ArenaAllstate Arena is a multi-purpose arena, in Rosemont, Illinois.It is home to the Chicago Rush, of the Arena Football League, DePaul University's men's basketball team, the Chicago Wolves, of the AHL, and the Chicago Sky, of the WNBA.It is located near the intersection of Mannheim Road and...
.
█ Rock Island District
Rock Island District
The Rock Island District is a commuter rail line operated by Metra from Chicago, Illinois, United States, southwest to Joliet. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the Rock Island District line are printed in "Rocket Red"...
- The Rock Island District is a 46.8 mile (75 km) route serving Chicago and its southwest and southern suburbs. The line serves 26 stations on two branches, terminating downtown at LaSalle Street Station and extending to Joliet. The line served an average of 30,500 passenger trips every weekday in 2010.
- Rock Island's 35th Street stationJones/Bronzeville (Metra)Lovana S. "Lou" Jones/Bronzeville, also known as 35th Street Metra Station is a station on Metra's Rock Island District line and a proposed station for Metra's planned SouthEast Service. It is located in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois...
provides service to the Illinois Institute of TechnologyIllinois Institute of TechnologyIllinois Institute of Technology, commonly called Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private Ph.D.-granting university located in Chicago, Illinois, with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law...
and U.S. Cellular FieldU.S. Cellular FieldU.S. Cellular Field is a baseball ballpark in Chicago, Illinois. Owned by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, it is the home of the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball's American League. The park opened for the 1991 season, after the White Sox had spent 81 years at old Comiskey Park...
, home of the Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
.
█ SouthWest Service
SouthWest Service
The SouthWest Service is an American commuter rail line owned and operated by Metra, running southwest from Union Station in downtown Chicago, Illinois, to Manhattan, Illinois...
- SouthWest Service is a 40.8 mile (66 km) route serving Chicago and its southwest suburbs. The line serves 13 stations, terminating downtown at Union Station and extending to ManhattanManhattan (Metra)Manhattan is a commuter railroad station on Metra's SouthWest Service located in the town of Manhattan, Illinois. The station is the southern terminus of the line. The Manhattan station opened on January 30, 2006, as part of a southern extension of the SouthWest Service...
. The line served an average of 9,500 passenger trips every weekday in 2010.
█ Union Pacific/North Line
Union Pacific/North Line
The Union Pacific/North is a commuter rail line in the Chicago metropolitan area that runs between Chicago and Waukegan, Illinois, with some trains continuing to Kenosha, Wisconsin. It is part of the Metra system, but it is operated by the Union Pacific Railroad...
:
- Union Pacific North is a 51.6 mile (83 km) route serving Chicago and its northern suburbs. The line serves 27 stations, terminating downtown at Ogilvie Transportation Center. Union Pacific North provides Metra service to WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
via the Kenosha Metra stationKenosha (Metra)Kenosha is a railroad station in Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States served by Metra's Union Pacific/North Line. It is the northern terminus of the line, which runs south to the Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago, Illinois. Kenosha is the only Metra station in Wisconsin...
at its outer end. The line served an average of 36,400 passenger trips every weekday in 2010. - The Union Pacific North line also provides service to Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
via the Evanston Davis Street stationEvanston Davis Street (Metra)Evanston Davis Street is a commuter railroad station in downtown Evanston, Illinois, USA. It is served solely by Metra's Union Pacific/North Line with trains going south to Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago and as far north as Kenosha, Wisconsin. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Davis...
, Ravinia Festival via the Ravinia Park stationRavinia Park (Metra)Ravinia Park is a station on Metra's Union Pacific/North Line located in Highland Park, Illinois. The station serves Ravinia Park, and trains only stop at the Ravinia Park station during concert season. Ravinia Park is away from Ogilvie Transportation Center, the southern terminus of the Union...
, and the Chicago Botanic GardenChicago Botanic GardenLocated at 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, Illinois, USA, the Chicago Botanic Garden is a living plant museum situated on nine islands featuring 24 display gardens and surrounded by four natural habitats: McDonald Woods, Dixon Prairie, Skokie River Corridor, and Lakes and Shores. The Garden is open...
via the Braeside stationBraeside (Metra)Braeside is a railroad station near Highland Park, Illinois serving Metra's Union Pacific/North Line, in the Braeside neighborhood of Highland Park. It is located at 10 North St. Johns Avenue, just off Lake Cook Road. In Metra's zone-based fare schedule, Braeside is in zone E. Cook County Forest...
.
█ Union Pacific/Northwest Line
Union Pacific/Northwest Line
The Union Pacific/Northwest is a commuter rail line provided by Metra and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs...
- The longest Metra route, Union Pacific Northwest is a 70.5 mile (113 km) route serving Chicago and its northwest suburbs. The line serves 23 stations, terminating downtown at Ogilvie Transportation Center and extending to HarvardHarvard (Metra)Harvard is a station on Metra's Union Pacific/Northwest Line located in Harvard, Illinois. The station is the terminus of the Northwest Line. It is the only Metra station located in the M zone, and is the farthest Metra station from Chicago at...
and McHenryMcHenry (Metra)McHenry is a station on Metra's Union Pacific/Northwest Line, located in McHenry, Illinois. The station is the terminus of the McHenry Branch of the Northwest Line; inbound trains operate as far as Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago. The station is also the only station on the McHenry Branch...
. The line served an average of 40,900 passenger trips every weekday in 2010. - Union Pacific Northwest provides service to Arlington ParkArlington ParkArlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
through the Arlington Park stationArlington Park (Metra)Arlington Park is one of two Metra commuter railroad stations along Metra's Union Pacific/Northwest line in the Village of Arlington Heights, Illinois. The station is located at 2121 West Northwest Highway and Wilke Road, within Arlington Park Race Course, and lies from the Ogilvie Transportation...
.
█ Union Pacific/West Line
Union Pacific/West Line
The Union Pacific/West is a commuter rail line provided by Metra and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs...
- Union Pacific West is a 43.6 mile (70 km) route serving Chicago and its western suburbs. The line serves 19 stations, terminating downtown at Ogilvie Transportation Center and extending to ElburnElburn (Metra)Elburn is a station on Metra's Union Pacific/West Line located in Elburn, Illinois. The station is the western terminus of the West Line. The station is away from Ogilvie Transportation Center along the railroad tracks. The station opened in January 2006, when the West Line was expanded from...
. The line served an average of 29,400 passenger trips every weekday in 2010.
Intermodal connections
Transportation in ChicagoTransportation in Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, is the third largest city in the United States and a major transportation hub. The city is served by two major airports, and is the main freight rail hub of North America....
consists of a rich public transportation infrastructure allowing for intermodal connections
Intermodal passenger transport
Intermodal passenger transport involves more than one mode of transport of passengers. Some modes of transportation have always been intermodal; for example, most major airports have extensive facilities for automobile parking and have good rail or bus connections to the cities nearby. Urban bus...
to local, regional, national and international transportation services. Parking lot
Parking lot
A parking lot , also known as car lot, is a cleared area that is intended for parking vehicles. Usually, the term refers to a dedicated area that has been provided with a durable or semi-durable surface....
s are available adjacent to most suburban Metra stations for passengers connecting with their train by car
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
. Most parking lots are operated by the municipality they are located in. Fees and fines are also assessed by the local municipality; however, parking is usually free on weekends and most holidays. Mass transit CTA
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs....
and suburban Pace
Pace (transit)
Pace is the suburban bus division of the Regional Transportation Authority in the Chicago metropolitan area. It was created in 1983 by the RTA Act, which established the formula that provides funding to CTA, Metra and Pace. In 2010, Pace had 35.077 million riders. Pace's headquarters are in...
busses connect with many Metra stations downtown and in the suburbs. Monthly pass holders are offered link-up options with these services. In addition, many intercity bus
Intercity bus
An intercity bus is a bus that carries passengers significant distances between different cities, towns, or other populated areas. Unlike a municipal bus, which has frequent stops throughout a city or town, an intercity bus generally has a single stop at a centralized location within the city, and...
lines connect with passengers outside of Union Station.
Chicago 'L'
Chicago 'L'
The L is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs. It is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority...
subway and elevated trains also connect with Metra trains at some Chicago stations. Most 'L' lines traverse the Loop allowing nearby access to all downtown Metra terminals. Some stations, such as the Jefferson Park Transit Center, provide transfer points to Chicago 'L' stations outside of the Loop. 'L' trains announce downtown Metra connections onboard when announcing the next 'L' stop. Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
intercity trains depart alongside Metra trains at Union Station. In addition to Illinois Service
Illinois Service
The Illinois Service, branded as Amtrak Illinois, is a United States passenger rail network that consists of five trains operated by Amtrak along three corridors to provide frequent daily service between Chicago and other cities in the U.S. state of Illinois, plus St. Louis, Missouri...
and Hiawatha Service to Milwaukee, Amtrak trains run nationwide including service to states spanning both coastlines. Passengers connecting from Ogilvie Transportation Center can access Union Station through its north platforms on the opposite side of Madison Street
Madison Street (Chicago)
Madison Street is a major east-west street in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to human intervention, the Chicago River emptied into Lake Michigan at the present day intersection of Madison Street and Michigan Avenue....
.
Fare system and ticketing
Tickets
Several ticketing options exist for passengers. Riders may choose to purchase one-way tickets, ten-ride tickets, weekend passes or monthly passes.- A one-way ticket is used for one-way travel between two stations. For roundtrip travel, two one-way tickets can be purchased. One-way tickets can be purchased from ticket agents or on the train from a conductor. Conductors will charge an extra $3 if a ticket agent was available at the passenger's departing station.
- A ten-ride provides ten rides between two zones determined at the time of purchase. Ten-rides can be shared between passengers and expire after one year from the date of purchase. Ten-rides can be purchased from ticket agents, by mail, or online from Metra's website.
- A weekend pass provides unlimited travel between any and all zones for one passenger on a Saturday and Sunday. Sometimes weekend passes are extended to include holidays adjacent to the weekend. Weekend passes can always be purchased from conductors without a surcharge and from ticket agents. As of 2011, weekend passes cost $7.
- A monthly pass provides unlimited travel between any two zones for one passenger on everyday of a respective month. Monthly passes can be used on any line within the specified zones. Monthly passes can be purchased from ticket agents, by mail, or online from Metra's website. Monthly pass holders may also purchase a Pace bus sticker in conjunction with their monthly pass purchase. The sticker provides unlimited rides on all Pace suburban busses. A CTA link-up option is also available for purchase. It provides unlimited connecting travel on Pace busses, CTA busses and the CTA 'L' between certain rush hours. Monthly pass holders may also travel beyond the zones listed on the monthly pass by purchasing incremental tickets from conductors on the train. Incremental tickets cost $1 beyond the first zone and 50 cents for every additional zone thereafter. There is no surcharge to purchase incremental tickets for monthly pass holders.
Reduced fare programs
Metra allows some travellers to purchase reduced fare tickets or even ride for free. These reduced fare and free ride programs are administered by Metra and the RTA. Some pre-college studentStudent
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s, youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
, senior citizen
Senior citizen
Senior citizen is a common polite designation for an elderly person in both UK and US English, and it implies or means that the person is retired. This in turn implies or in fact means that the person is over the retirement age, which varies according to country. Synonyms include pensioner in UK...
s, members of the United States Armed Forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
, and persons with disabilities
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
may qualify for these programs. Time-based and geographical restrictions apply to these programs and passengers must ensure they qualify before attempting to purchase special tickets or ride for free.
Safety and security
Metra Police Department
The Metra Police Department was created to protect the Metra rail system, which operates in Chicago and the Chicago metropolitan area, spanning 6 counties....
, and other public safety agencies are responsible for maintaining safety and security on its lines, aboard its trains and at stations all to various degrees. Although rail transport is one of the safest forms of land travel, compromises to Metra's safety and security can occur through pedestrian accidents, suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
attempts, vehicle collisions, derailment
Derailment
A derailment is an accident on a railway or tramway in which a rail vehicle, or part or all of a train, leaves the tracks on which it is travelling, with consequent damage and in many cases injury and/or death....
, terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
, and other incidents
Train wreck
A train wreck or train crash is a type of disaster involving one or more trains. Train wrecks often occur as a result of miscommunication, as when a moving train meets another train on the same track; or an accident, such as when a train wheel jumps off a track in a derailment; or when a boiler...
. Failing to maintain safety and security can result in equipment and infrastructure damage, extensive service disruptions, traumatic injuries, and loss of life
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
. Therefore Metra and other agencies consider safety a top priority and dedicate a significant amount of resources to combat these dangers.
Law enforcement
The Metra Police Department is a special law enforcement agency charged with providing security to passengers, employees, equipment, and property. The department has more than 100 police officerPolice officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
s and is responsible for the safety of all routes and stations. In an effort to help coordinate emergency preparedness and incident management
Incident management
Incident Management refers to the activities of an organization to identify, analyze and correct hazards. For instance, a fire in a factory would be a risk that realized, or an incident that happened...
, all Metra police officers are certified in the National Incident Management System
National Incident Management System
The National Incident Management System is emergency management doctrine used nationwide to coordinate emergency preparedness and incident management and response among the public and private sectors.NIMS is a comprehensive, national approach to incident management that is applicable at all...
. In addition, the Metra police work with the Chicago Police Department
Chicago Police Department
The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. It is the largest police department in the Midwest and the second largest local law enforcement agency in the...
as a member of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy
Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy
Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy was started in 1993 as a pilot program in five diverse neighborhoods. A year later, the Chicago Police Department implemented CAPS all across Chicago...
. Only one Metra police officer has been killed in the line of duty.
Rail safety
The focus on rail safety by Metra comes from many fronts beyond operations including emergency preparedness, and public awareness. The setup of railway platformRailway platform
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms...
s, use of grade crossing signals
Grade crossing signals
Grade Crossing Signals are the warning devices for road vehicles at railroad grade crossings. The basic signal consists of two sets of flashing red lights, one on the front and one on the back, a sign that says Railroad Crossing, and a bell. At crossings that typically get trains going at about...
, and horn blasts
Crossing sequence (railways)
In rail transport, the crossing sequence is a pattern sounded by a locomotive horn or whistle as the train approaches and passes a grade crossing....
make up a critical system used to communicate movements of commuter trains to pedestrians and vehicles.
Outside of these operational components, Metra aggressively pursues safety through public awareness. Metra utilizes its own Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver is an organization originally started in Idaho in 1972 as a six-week, one-time public awareness campaign sponsored by the office of Governor Cecil Andrus, the Idaho Peace Officers and Union Pacific Railroad after years of increasing grade crossing accidents.As a result of...
program and uses it to help spread safety messages. Metra also holds events promoting rail safety at schools and organizes a safety poster contest awarding winners with prizes and features their poster on monthly passes and at stations.
Metra has been honored with several E. H. Harriman Awards for employee safety, most recently with a Bronze award in class B (line-haul railroads with between 4 and 15 million employee hours per year) for 2005. Previous Harriman Awards conferred to Metra include Gold awards for 2003 and 2004 and a Silver award for 2002.
Incidents
There were 156 non-employee fatalities involving Metra equipment and Metra owned track between 2001 and 2010. On average 15 people were killed annually based on data from that decade. The highest number of fatalities in a year throughout that time occurred in 2002, with 23 deaths, and in 2010, with 21 deaths. The majority of these fatalities occurred at grade crossings and on railway involving an impact with a train; only four deaths involved passengers aboard the train.The worst passenger rail disaster in Illinois occurred prior to the formation of Regional Transportation Authority. The 1972 Chicago commuter rail crash consisted of a two train collision on track now used for the Metra Electric District. The collision resulted in 45 deaths and 332 injuries. Several decades later, Metra experienced its first rail disaster, the 1995 Fox River Grove bus–train collision. This accident involved a collision of a Metra train and a school bus
School bus
A school bus is a type of bus designed and manufactured for student transport: carrying children and teenagers to and from school and school events...
at a grade crossing resulting in 21 injuries and the deaths of seven high school students.
In addition to the loss of life, injuries, damage, and service disruptions caused by accidents, Metra and other transportation agencies have been involved in multi-million dollar lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
s and settlements stemming from safety failures. These failures have also resulted in updated safety policies and adjustments of equipment and warning devices.
Locomotive fleet
All of Metra's locomotives are diesel-electric locomotives. The bulk of its locomotive fleet consists of F40PH locomotives. The Electric District uses electric multiple unitElectric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s.
| Numbers | Model | Year Built | Assigned | Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100–127 | F40PH-3 EMD F40PH -Amtrak NPCU Conversions:In later years, as Amtrak's F40PH fleet was being replaced by the newer GE Genesis-series locomotives, Amtrak converted a number of the retired units—generally ones with major mechanical problems limiting their value in the resale or lease marketplace—into "Non-Power... |
1976–1977 | All diesel routes | Operating, rebuilt to phase 3 status between 2008-2011 |
| 128–184 | F40PH-2 | 1979–1989 | All diesel routes, many of which are assigned to the UP lines | Operating, being rebuilt to F40PH-3's as of 1/11 |
| 185–214 | F40PHM-2 | 1991–1992 | All Diesel Routes Except Union Pacific Lines. 214 pulled the first North Central Service North Central Service The North Central Service is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the North Central Service line are printed in light "Soo... train from Antioch Antioch (Metra) Antioch is a station on Metra's North Central Service in Antioch, Illinois. The station is away from Union Station, the southern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Antioch is in zone K.... to Chicago Union Station (Chicago) Union Station is a major train station that opened in 1925 in Chicago, replacing an earlier 1881 station. It is now the only intercity rail terminal in Chicago, as well as being the city's primary terminal for commuter trains. The station stands on the west side of the Chicago River between Adams... . The F40PHM-2s are the last F40PH series locomotives built. |
Operating |
| 215-216 | F40PH-3 EMD F40PH -Amtrak NPCU Conversions:In later years, as Amtrak's F40PH fleet was being replaced by the newer GE Genesis-series locomotives, Amtrak converted a number of the retired units—generally ones with major mechanical problems limiting their value in the resale or lease marketplace—into "Non-Power... |
1977-1981 | All Diesel Routes | Operating, Sold to Metra in 2009 by the Tennessee Central Railway Museum, and refurbished by Progress Rail before coming to Chicago. METX 215: Ex-Amtrak 258, METX 216: Ex-Amtrak 375 |
| 401–427 | MP36PH-3S | 2003–2004 | BNSF, RI, Milwaukee North, Milwaukee West and North Central Service | Operating |
| 305, 308 | F7 EMD F7 The EMD F7 was a Diesel-electric locomotive produced between February 1949 and December 1953 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors and General Motors Diesel . It succeeded the F3 model in GM-EMD's F-unit sequence, and was replaced in turn by the F9. Final assembly was at GM-EMD's La... |
1949 | All Diesel Routes | Retired, donated to Illinois Railway Museum Illinois Railway Museum The Illinois Railway Museum is the largest railroad museum in the United States and is located in Union, Illinois, northwest of Chicago... |
| 514–516, 518, 521 | E8 EMD E8 The EMD E8 was a , A1A-A1A passenger train locomotive manufactured by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois. The cab version, or E8A, was manufactured from August, 1949 to December, 1953, and 449 were produced – 446 for U.S., and 3 for Canada... |
1951–1953 | All Diesel Routes | Retired |
| 600–614 | F40C EMD F40C The EMD F40C is a 6-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between March and May 1974 for commuter service. It is powered by a 16-cylinder EMD 645E3B, which can produce . It uses the same frame as the EMD SD40-2, giving it an overall length of... |
1974 | 611 & 614 Milwaukee Districts | 600-610, & 612-613 Retired, 611 & 614 Operating, 611 and 614 were brought back into service, first in 2004 when the MP36PH-3S had software and computer problems when first delivered to Metra, and again in 2008 while F40s were sent to Progress Rail for overhaul. |
| 1–2 | SW1 EMD SW1 The EMD SW1 was a diesel-electric switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between December 1938 and November 1953. Final assembly was at EMD's plant at La Grange, Illinois. The SW1 was the second generation of 600 hp switcher from EMD, succeeding the SW and SC... |
1939 | RI, ME Metra Electric Line The Metra Electric District is an electrified commuter rail line owned and operated by Metra which connects Millennium Station in downtown Chicago, with the city's southern suburbs... |
Operating |
| 3 | SW1200 EMD SW1200 An EMD SW1200 is a diesel switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1954 and May 1966. Power was provided by an EMD 567C 12-cylinder engine which generated 1200 horsepower... |
Milwaukee West, Milwaukee North | Operating | |
| 4–8 | SW1500 EMD SW1500 The EMD SW1500 was a diesel locomotive intended for switching service and built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division between June 1966 and January 1974. 808 examples were constructed. It was closely related to the less powerful EMD SW1000 model, forming a line of switchers powered by the new... |
RI, Milwaukee West, Milwaukee North, ME Metra Electric Line The Metra Electric District is an electrified commuter rail line owned and operated by Metra which connects Millennium Station in downtown Chicago, with the city's southern suburbs... |
Operating |
Coach fleet
| Numbers | Type | Heritage | Year Built | Builder | Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 740–820 | Coach | Burlington | 1950–1973 | Budd Budd Company The Budd Company is a metal fabricator and major supplier of body components to the automobile industry, and was formerly a manufacturer of stainless steel passenger rail cars during the 20th century.... |
Operating |
| 7100–7121 | Coach | Burlington | 1977–1978 | Budd | Operating |
| 6001–6192 | Coach | Metra | 2002–2005 | Nippon Sharyo Nippon Sharyo , , formed in 1896, is a major rolling stock manufacturer based in Nagoya, Japan. In 1996, it abbreviated its name to "日本車両" Nippon Sharyō. Its shortest abbreviation is Nissha "日車". It was a listed company on Nikkei 225 until 2004. It is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Nagoya Stock Exchange... |
Operating |
| 7200–7382 | Coach | Milwaukee Road | 1961–1980 | Budd | Operating |
| 7400–7497 | Coach | Metra | 1996–1998 | Amerail | Operating |
| 8200–8238 | Coach/Cab | Milwaukee Road | 1961–1974 | Budd | Operating |
| 8239–8275 | Coach/Cab | RTA | 1978–1980 | Budd | Operating |
| 8400–8413 | Coach/Cab | Metra | 1994–1995 | Morrison-Knudsen | Operating |
| 8414–8478 | Coach/Cab | Metra | 1995–1998 | Amerail | Operating |
| 8501–8608 | Coach/Cab | Metra | 2002–2005 | Nippon Sharyo | Operating |
| 7700–7866 | Coach | Chicago and North Western | 1960–1970 | Pullman | Operating |
| 553 | Club Car | Chicago and North Western Chicago and North Western Railway The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was a Class I railroad in the Midwest United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s... |
1949 | ACF American Car and Foundry Company American Car and Foundry is a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock. One of its subsidiaries was once a manufacturer of motor coaches and trolley coaches under the brand names of ACF and ACF-Brill. Today ACF is known as ACF Industries LLC and is based in St. Charles, Missouri... |
Operating |
| 555 | Club Car | Chicago and North Western | 1949 | ACF | Retired |
| 7600–7613 | Coach | Chicago and North Western | 1955 | St. Louis St. Louis Car Company The St. Louis Car Company was a major United States manufacturer of railroad passenger cars, streetcars, trolleybuses and locomotives that existed from 1887–1973, based in St. Louis, Missouri.-History:... |
Retired |
| 7650–7681 | Coach | Chicago and North Western | 1956 | Pullman Pullman Company The Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s... |
Retired |
| 7867–7871 | Coach | Rock Island | 1970 | St. Louis | Retired |
| 7880 | Coach (Former Parlor) | Chicago and North Western | 1958 | Pullman | Retired |
| 7881–7885 | Coach | Rock Island | 1970 | Pullman | Retired |
| 7900–7901 | Club Car | Chicago and North Western | 1955 | St. Louis | Retired |
| 8700–8763 | Coach/Cab | Chicago and North Western | 1960–1968 | Pullman | Retired |
Metra electric fleet
| Numbers | Type | Heritage | Year Built | Builder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | MU Coach | Metra | Deliveries begin in 2012 | Sumitomo Group Sumitomo Group is one of the largest keiretsu, founded by Masatomo Sumitomo.-History:The Sumitomo group traces its roots to a bookshop in Kyoto founded circa 1615 by a former buddhist priest,... |
| 1201–1226 | MU Coach | Metra | 2005 | Nippon Sharyo Nippon Sharyo , , formed in 1896, is a major rolling stock manufacturer based in Nagoya, Japan. In 1996, it abbreviated its name to "日本車両" Nippon Sharyō. Its shortest abbreviation is Nissha "日車". It was a listed company on Nikkei 225 until 2004. It is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Nagoya Stock Exchange... |
| 1501–1630 | MU Coach | Illinois Central | 1971–1972 | St. Louis St. Louis Car Company The St. Louis Car Company was a major United States manufacturer of railroad passenger cars, streetcars, trolleybuses and locomotives that existed from 1887–1973, based in St. Louis, Missouri.-History:... |
| 1631–1666 | MU Coach | Illinois Central | 1978–1979 | Bombardier Bombardier Transportation Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany.... |
See also
- Mass transit in Chicago
- Chicago 'L'Chicago 'L'The L is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs. It is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority...
- Chicago Transit AuthorityChicago Transit AuthorityChicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs....
- Pace (transit)Pace (transit)Pace is the suburban bus division of the Regional Transportation Authority in the Chicago metropolitan area. It was created in 1983 by the RTA Act, which established the formula that provides funding to CTA, Metra and Pace. In 2010, Pace had 35.077 million riders. Pace's headquarters are in...
- South Shore Line (NICTD)South Shore Line (NICTD)The South Shore Line is an electrically powered interurban commuter rail line operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District between Millennium Station in downtown Chicago and the South Bend Regional Airport in South Bend, Indiana...
Further reading
- J. David Ingles, Metra: "Best Commuter Train", TrainsTrains (magazine)Trains is a monthly magazine dedicated to trains and railroads, and is one of the two flagship publications of Kalmbach Publishing. The magazine is read both by railroad enthusiasts, commonly referred to as railfans, and those within the railroad industry....
July 1993
External links
- Metra Official website
- Metra Connects Metra's official planned service site
- Regional Transportation Authority Official website of Metra's parent agency