Metra Extra/Modified Schedules

I trust that the equipment will do a special outbound run later on that afternoon, even though it's not posted as such on Metra's website...

I'm not exactly sure how Metra would do an outbound run... given that most people would be getting on at stations along the branch at different times depending when the parade ends. It would make sense to me to add a 1:30 or 3:30 out of LaSalle just to break up the 2 hour gap.

Metra posted information on UP-N's new service today:

Metra's Sunrise Express

RI was way more crowded than I thought it would be today, the extra train ran up until Oak Forest before filling up the 8 car set... skipping Midlothian and Robbins. The train also ran a good 20+ minutes late due to heavy passenger loading. After the parade, the 2:30 departure also ran about 20 minutes late for the same reason. Not to mention we were at Oak Forest for a good 5-6 minutes while police escorted someone from the train. I'm not sure when the extra set left LaSalle, but I would guess not too far behind 701.

2 extra express trains have been added to BNSF's schedule for St. Pat's Day, Sat 3/17. One leaving Aurora at 10:10am, the other leaving CUS at 1525.

If the BNSF E9's were still available, they should do a special St. Pat's run.

Both new BNSF and UP-N schedules effective April 1st, can be see here:

http://metrarail.com/Service_Advisories ... dates.html

metraRI wrote:April 6th Schedule Changes

Does someone at Metra have an ax to grind with the South/Southwest side service? How come nothing extra to Orland/Joliet?

Every now and then, a 3:40 express to Tinley is added on RI, not sure why nothing was changed this time. SWS had a 3:30 added for something a few months back, I forget what day it was for. SWS could easily add a 3:40 departure and have it deadhead back downtown for the 6:15, but that is an unlikely thing to happen.

Revised schedules for Friday, May 25, 2007 are posted. Nothing out of the ordinary when extras are added prior to a major holiday.

here for schedule

A good portion of lines this weekend will see some type of extra service, most of the lines seeing two extra inbound trains.

metraRI wrote:A good portion of lines this weekend will see some type of extra service, most of the lines seeing two extra inbound trains.

...and even UP is getting into the act this time, with extra service on the W and NW lines. Had to read that twice, just to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

For more details...

http://metrarail.com/Service_Advisories ... r2007.html#

I wonder how busy those extra trains were today.. the Rock's 4:25 express ran with 4 out of 8 cars open, but the train probably could have made it with only 2 open. There was supposed to be a 6:35 express, but Metra might have decided to cancel the train, I was out around Tinley until well after it should have arrived, and no sign of anything... not sure what happened with that one.

Don't think the West line extras were all that busy either, but UP stuck to the schedule anyway. On Sunday, one of the extras deadheaded from OTC to West Chgo, where it was then sent back downtown ahead of regular run 506. Both trains were nine cars; but judging from the sparse gathering of folks along the route due to the crummy weather all weekend, I'd be surprised if more than three cars were open at any given time. I guess they were committed to running the extras, but as it turned out, it really wasn't necessary...

"...and even UP is getting into the act this time, with extra service on the W and NW lines. Had to read that twice, just to make sure I wasn't seeing things."

It would be nice Metra could work with the UP and actually coordinate between what is advertised and what actually runs. The the NW line express train that was advertised to arrive downtown at 9:59 in the morning of the 18th never ran. That caused a SNAFU on the northwest line as passengers were confused as th whether the arriving train was the express or the local and that jacked up boarding times which caused the local to be 15 minutes late. Then Saturday evening I called the RTA info line to see if there was an express train leaving downtown at 6:20 PM for Crystal Lake as advertised on Metra's website. The answer was no and that there was no express train on record to run. Well I got to OTC and lo and behold there is the 6:20PM on the departure board. Well only four of the nine cars were open and the open cars weren't really that crowded. Could that be due to Metra not knowing that it was even running?