Metra Tests Expanded Midday Service on Rock Island Line

Chicago, IL -- Metra announced plans to launch a trial program to enhance midday train service on the Rock Island Line by adding express trains that will speed the trip between suburban stations and downtown Chicago by 15 to 20 minutes.

Beginning Aug. 1, Metra will modify its schedule by adding three inbound express trains and two outbound express runs during the late morning and afternoon. The three inbound trains will make all stops from Joliet to Blue Island and then express to the 35th Street/Lou Jones station in Bronzeville or the downtown LaSalle Street Metra station. Passengers may also request a flag stop at the 35th Street/Lou Jones station.

Three additional inbound Rock Island trains will also originate in Blue Island, making all stops along the Beverly branch, which includes the 91st Street, 95th Street, 99th Street, 103rd Street, 107th Street Beverly Hills stations, and Morgan Park’s 111th Street station.

Suburban customers going to a Beverly branch station and branch riders heading to the suburbs will need to transfer at Blue Island. Metra said the schedule has been designed to make transfer easy and convenient for riders.

Metra has also added two midday outbound express trains offering service from LaSalle Street to Blue Island and stations further south with the option of flag stops at 35th Street/Lou Jones.

Two midday outbound trains will accommodate riders along the Rock Island’s Beverly branch. These trains will also make flag stops at 35th Street/Lou Jones. Customers boarding these outbound strains at a Beverly branch station needing to travel further south can make a convenient transfer at Blue Island.

Customers wishing to make transfers need to tell their conductor on the first leg of their trip so their ticket can be marked accordingly. In addition, at stations marked as flag stops, the train will stop to discharge passengers only if the passengers notify the conductor and will stop to pick up passengers only if they are visible to the engineer on the platform.

The new tentative schedule includes:

• Departing Joliet 10:21 a.m. weekdays; express from Blue Island Vermont station at 11:03 a.m. and arriving downtown LaSalle Street at 11:33 a.m.
• Departing Blue Island branch 11:13 a.m. weekdays, making all stops into the city and arrive downtown LaSalle Street at 11:58 a.m.
• Express train departing Joliet at 1:21 a.m; arriving downtown LaSalle Street at 2:33 p.m.
• Express train departing Blue Island at 2:13 p.m., arriving downtown LaSalle Street at 2:58 p.m.

Split local runs:

• Departs Joliet weekdays at 2:21 p.m.; arrive downtown LaSalle Street at 3:33 p.m.
• Departs Blue Island weekends at 3:23 p.m.; arriving downtown LaSalle Stret at 4:11 p.m.

On the outbound side:

• Departs LaSalle Street weekdays at 12:55 p.m. all stops; arriving Blue Island at 1:40 p.m.
• Departs LaSalle Street weekdays at 9:55 a.m.; arriving at Blue Island 10:40 a.m.
• Express run weekdays departing LaSalle Street 10:30 a.m. to Blue Island arriving 10:50 a.m.; before making all stops to Joliet arriving at 11:35 a.m.
• Express run weekends departing LaSalle Street at 1:30 p.m.to Blue Island arriving 1:50 p.m. before making all stops to Joliet arriving at 2:37 p.m.
• Departs LaSalle Street weekdays at 12:55 p.m. Beverly branch; arrives Blue Island at 1:40 p.m.

The enhanced schedule was driven by the success of the weekend express service added last year, which has proven to be popular with customers.

The service improvement will operate as a six-month pilot project. Ridership will be evaluated before any decision is made to make a permanent change to the Rock Island schedule. The added service is expected to cost about $290,000 annually.

New timetables will be available shortly on Rock Island trains and stations. The new schedules will be posted on Metra Rail.