Beginning Aug. 14, four trains will be added to the Metra Electric Line’s Blue Island Branch schedule. Electric Line riders on all branches will also see minor changes to the existing train schedule to better reflect operating conditions. The new schedule can be viewed here.
The new trains and schedule adjustments will also address ridership trends and service gaps to Hyde Park and areas south to 115th/Kensington Station. Since the pandemic, Hyde Park stations have seen a higher recovery in ridership compared to other locations in the Metra system. Specifically, reverse-peak ridership on the Metra Electric now exceeds pre-pandemic levels. The new schedule directly addresses this, providing new options for those riders.
“Ridership is growing as more people return to a regular commuting schedule. Adding trains makes Metra a more viable option for people living along the line,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski. “We will continue to make periodic schedule adjustments to meet the changing needs of Metra riders and provide our riders with reliable schedule information.”
New Trains
- Train 204 will depart Blue Island at 6:05 a.m., make all stops and arrive at Millennium Station at 7:02 a.m. Passengers on this train can transfer to an express train (Train 700) at Kensington/115th St., which arrives at Millennium Station at 6:50 a.m.
- Train 226 will depart Blue Island at 9:18 a.m., make all stops and arrive at Millennium Station at 10:15 a.m. Passengers on this train can transfer to an express train (Train 116) at Kensington/115th St., which arrives at Millennium Station at 10:02 a.m.
- Train 207 will depart Millennium Station at 8 a.m. and express to Hyde Park, stopping at 51st/53rd St, 55th-56th-57th St., 59th St., and 63rd St. (flag stop). The train will then express to Kensington/115th St. and make all stops to Blue Island, arriving at 8:46 a.m.
- Train 231 will depart Millennium Station at 4 p.m. and make all stops to Blue Island, arriving at 4:52 p.m.
Modifications to Existing Trains
- Train 111 will depart Millennium Station 10 minutes earlier (7:30 a.m.), make additional flag stops at 75th, 79th (temporarily closed for construction), 83rd, 87th, 91st, 103rd, 107th, and 111th streets and arrive at University Park at 8:43 a.m.
- Train 304 will now arrive at Millennium station at 7:21 a.m. (1 minute later).
- Train 214 will now arrive at Millennium Station at 9:06 a.m. (3 minutes later). Customers should consult the schedule for Train 116 will no longer make stops from 111th St. to 63rd St. and from 47th St. to 18th St. and will now arrive at Millennium Station at 10:02 a.m. (9 minutes earlier). Train 226 will now serve these intermediate stations.
- Train 328 will adjust its departure times from Museum Campus/11th St. (4:19 pm.) and Van Buren St. (4:23 p.m.) and arrive at Millennium at 4:27 p.m. (2 minutes later).
- Train 138 will now arrive at Millennium Station at 7:38 p.m. (2 minutes later). Customers should consult the schedule for new station departure times.
- Train 142 will now arrive at Millennium Station at 9 p.m. (1 minute later). Customers should consult the schedule for new station departure times.
- Train 144 will now arrive at Millennium Station at 9:58 p.m. (1 minute later). Customers should consult the schedule for new station departure times.
- Train 146 will now arrive at Millennium Station at 10:58 p.m. (1 minute later). Customers should consult the schedule for new station departure times.
- Train 148 will now arrive at Millennium Station at 11:58 p.m. (1 minute later). Customers should consult the schedule for new station departure times.
- Train 150 will now arrive at Millennium Station at 12:58 a.m. (1 minute later). Customers should consult the schedule for new station departure times.
The Metra Electric Line currently provides about 16,900 passenger trips on weekdays, about 60% of its pre-COVID ridership. This new schedule brings service levels on the line to 85% of what was provided pre-pandemic.