Beginning Monday, March 28, Metra will be implementing significant changes to the BNSF Line schedule, adding trains to reduce crowding and restore service to near pre-pandemic levels.
Under the new BNSF Line schedule, weekday service will increase from 86 to 91 trains. Four new trains will be added to the schedule and three trains that were removed from the schedule in November 2021 will be restored. Two late morning rush hour trains that provided all stop service between Chicago and Brookfield will no longer operate. To accommodate the additional trains, there will be multiple adjustments to departure times and stopping patterns across the BNSF Line’s weekday schedule. Adjustments to intermediate departure times have also been made to better represent actual operating conditions. There are no changes to weekend service.
Current ridership on the BNSF Line is averaging about 19,000 passenger trips each weekday, about 30% of pre-COVID ridership. The schedule changes are being made in response to rider requests as well as continued monitoring of ridership patterns. Metra will continue to closely monitor ridership and will work with BNSF Railway to make additional schedule adjustments where appropriate.
The changes are summarized below, 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.
BNSF SPRING SCHEDULE CHANGE SUMMARY
Takes effect: March 28, 2022
New trains:
1306
- Departs Aurora at 6:47 a.m., expresses from Naperville, arrives in Chicago at 7:41 a.m.
1304
- Departs Downers Grove at 8:40 a.m., makes all local stops, arrives in Chicago at 9:40 a.m.
1301
- Departs Chicago at 2:30 p.m., expresses to Downers Grove, arrives in Aurora at 3:27 p.m.
1303
- Departs Chicago at 7:00 p.m., expresses to Downers Grove, arrives in Aurora at 7:57 p.m.
Trains being restored to schedule after temporary removal in November 2021:
1204
- Departs Fairview Avenue at 5:18 a.m. and arrives in Chicago at 6:15 a.m.
- Adds local stops from Brookfield through Halsted Street stations.
1284
- Departs Aurora at 5:04 p.m. and arrives in Chicago at 6:16 p.m.
- Adds stop at Belmont.
1259
- Departs Chicago at 4:50 p.m. and arrives in Aurora at 5:43 p.m.
Trains removed from the schedule:
1219
- The 8:05 a.m. local from Chicago Union Station to Brookfield will no longer operate.
1248
- The 8:51 a.m. departure from Brookfield will no longer operate.
Trains with modified schedules:
1202
- Departs Aurora 3 minutes later at 4:29 a.m.
1250
- Departs Aurora 3 minutes later at 8:32 a.m.
- Now runs express from Downers Grove to Chicago Union Station.
1268
- Now departs from Aurora (previously Naperville) at 3:40 p.m.
- Adds stops at Route 59, Lisle, and Belmont stations
- No longer stops at Fairview Avenue, West Hinsdale, Highlands, Stone Avenue, Hollywood, and LaVergne stations.
1272
- Adds stop at Cicero.
1276
- Adds stop at Cicero.
1201
- Departs Chicago Union Station 7 minutes later at 5:35 a.m.
1205
- No longer stops at Halsted Street.
1207
- Departs Chicago Union Station 10 minutes earlier at 6:25 a.m.
- Adds stops at LaVergne and Hollywood stations.
- No longer stops at LaGrange Stone Avenue, Highlands, and West Hinsdale stations.
1211
- Departs Chicago Union Station 3 minutes earlier at 6:47 a.m.
- Adds stops at LaGrange Road and Fairview Avenue stations.
1233
- Adds stops at Route 59 and Aurora stations.
1239
- Now makes all stops from Chicago Union Station to Aurora.
1243
- No longer stops at Brookfield.
1267
- Departs Chicago Union Station 5 minutes later at 5:20 p.m.
1283
- Departs Chicago Union Station 5 minutes earlier at 6:50 p.m.
In addition to the changes highlighted above, minor changes have been made to intermediate departure times across the schedule to better represent actual operating conditions. BNSF Line riders are advised to consult the new schedule for any changes that may affect them.