Metra Offers Free Rides This Weekend To Celebrate 40th Birthday

CHICAGO AREA, IL — Metra is commemorating its 40th birthday as a commuter rail system in the Chicago area by offering up free rides to all this weekend to all.

On Saturday and Sunday, there will be no charge for all rides on Metra trains throughout the Chicago area, according to a news release from Metra.

“This is our way to thank Chicago area residents for riding and supporting us for the last four decades,” said Jim Derwinski, executive director and CEO for Metra. “We encourage everyone to leave their cars at home this weekend and use Metra to experience everything that our city and suburbs have to offer.”

On June 8, 1984, Metra was officially established and is the date officials consider the commuter rail system's birthday. It is the date of the first meeting of the board of the newly formed Commuter Rail Division, created by Springfield a year earlier as part of a reform of the Regional Transportation Authority, according to the news release.

In addition to the free rides this weekend, a specially equipped railcar filled with interesting items from the history of Metra and its predecessor railroads will debut at stations in Chicago. The exhibit will be available to view from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the LaSalle Street Station.

The car will also be open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ogilvie Transportation Center on June 22, and will be at Chicago Union Station on July 6, and Millennium Station on July 20.