Metra today posted schedules for expanded rush hour service to begin Monday, July 12 on seven additional lines to meet growing ridership. All the schedules can be viewed here.
New schedules will take effect July 12 on the Heritage Corridor, Milwaukee District North and West, SouthWest Service, North Central Service and Union Pacific Northwest and West lines. On the same day, Metra will also launch previously announced new pilot schedules on the BNSF, Metra Electric and UP North lines that provide more off-peak options. A similar pilot schedule for the Rock Island Line is set to take effect on July 19.
“My Metra is about listening to the needs of our riders. These new schedules are intended to help our customers transition back to a regular work commute providing them with more choices and flexibility,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “We expect ridership to continue to increase as the summer progresses and will continue to monitor conditions and make schedule adjustments that are responsive to our customers’ needs.”
In addition to new trains, there are minor adjustments to the timetables of some existing trains on some lines; customers are advised to review the new schedules to see if the timetables of their trains have changed. All the changes are highlighted on the new schedules.
The guiding principles for Metra’s service restoration are to provide consistent and frequent service throughout the day; create easily understandable and memorable service patterns; implement new express service when possible in the peak travel periods; explore reverse-commute and new ridership markets; promote regional equity and create transfer opportunities within Metra and with other transit services.