Metra UP West (UP-W) Line riders will have greatly expanded options just in time for the winter season when a new pilot schedule goes into effect on Monday, Dec. 5.
Metra will be adding 18 trains (nine inbound and nine outbound) to its weekday service, for a total of 58 trains from the current 40. As with Metra’s other post-pandemic pilot schedule revisions, the new UP-W schedule offers more consistent service patterns and departure times, making the schedule easier for customers to understand and memorize. For example, most midday trains will now arrive in Chicago on the :50s past the hour and depart Chicago on the :40s past the hour.
“We have said since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that Metra is committed to adjusting its schedules to meet growing ridership and our riders’ changing needs,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “We are greatly encouraged by the growth in ridership so far this year and are happy that we are able to expand service on the UP-West Line to provide commuters with another option as winter sets in.”
Metra surveyed its riders this summer to ensure the newly scheduled trains served the most requested times. During the morning rush, UP-W riders from Elmhurst and most points west will now have inbound trains stopping every 10 to 20 minutes, and riders traveling from Berkeley and points east will have trains stopping at their stations every 30 minutes or better, with trains stopping in Oak Park every 10 to 25 minutes. Outbound service for the evening rush will operate with similar headways and service patterns. A new type of express train making limited stops to and from Glen Ellyn has also been added in both the morning and evening rush hours. Reverse commuters will now also have an express service option in the morning and the evening.
Midday service on the line will operate every 60 to 90 minutes, and every midday train will now stop at the Melrose Park, Maywood and Kedzie stations. During late night hours, most stations will have hourly service.
The new UP-W schedule can be viewed here. In addition to the new trains, train times have been adjusted throughout the schedule, and all customers are advised to review the new schedule to determine if their current trains are affected or if new trains better meet their needs. Metra will monitor customer feedback and operations and make future schedule adjustments as necessary.