Starting Nov. 15, the number of weekday trains on the BNSF Line will be temporarily reduced to 86 from 94 and the timetables and stopping patterns of many other trains will be adjusted. There are no changes to weekend service.
The modified weekday schedule concentrates on better utilization of resources while ridership is low and freight traffic is elevated during global supply chain disruptions. Metra expects the current schedule or similar schedule to be restored in the first quarter of 2022.
Current ridership on the BNSF Line is averaging about 15,000 passenger trips each weekday, about 24 percent of pre-COVID ridership. Metra will continue to monitor ridership closely and will work with BNSF Railway to make adjustments where appropriate.
The changes are summarized here, and the new schedule can be viewed here. All customers are encouraged to review the changes and the new schedule to determine if their trains are affected.