Metra Unveils New Schedule For Union Pacific, Accepting Feedback

CHICAGO — Metra trains on the Union Pacific line will run on an adjusted schedule starting Monday, Sept. 13, as ridership increases on two previously popular routes, officials announced.

The new schedule is not permanent, however, a Metra spokesperson said. A pilot schedule began on the UP North Line in mid-July. It was changed due to rider feedback, and the refined schedule will debut with Monday's new changes.

Among popular feedback was the option for more off-peak train times so that riders could avoid crowded train cars.

"We've been monitoring on-time performance as well as customer response since our mid-summer schedule changes," Metra Executive Director Jim Derwinski said in a statement.

Derwinski stressed the service's phone application, Ventra, will be useful to riders as the agency tweaks the schedule.

"This current round of changes is focused on on-time performance," he said. "We will continue to monitor performance across the Metra system and make further adjustments to schedules when necessary."

The statement listed some of Metra's new goals, which include exploring "reverse-commute" ridership and providing "transfer opportunities" from Metra to other transit services. Since the transportation service has deviated from prior schedules, which many commuters relied on, Derwinski said a primary goal is getting back to the easily memorable service patterns they once had.

New changes will begin Sept. 13 and run until further notice:

"Union Pacific Northwest Line:

• Inbound Train 6100 will now depart Barrington at 6:38 a.m. and arrive at Ogilvie Transportation Center (OTC) at 7:44 a.m. This train previously left from Des Plaines. The change will provide commuters better inner zone transfer opportunities with Train 610.
• Inbound Train 6188 will depart Des Plaines 10 minutes later to improve operational performance.
• Inbound Train 626 will depart Crystal Lake 5 minutes later to improve operational performance.
• Outbound Train 6133 will depart OTC 10 minutes earlier to improve on-time reliability en route.
• Outbound Train 6211 will depart OTC 6 minutes later to improve on-time performance and reliability.
• Outbound Train 625 will adjust departure times at intermediate stations to reflect actual operation conditions.

Union Pacific West Line:

• Late morning trains 277 and 444 will be removed from the schedule. Both trains were originally intended as a seasonal solution to provide more frequent off-peak service for summer events.
• Inbound train 42 will add a stop at Maywood to provide hourly service at the station.
• Outbound Train 15 will depart 5 minutes later to reduce congestion at OTC."

A complete list of schedule changes can be found here.