As Chicagoans return to work and stay-at-home restrictions are lifted, Metra is expanding its service on three lines to meet the needs of its growing ridership. Effective Monday, June 29, Metra will add service on the North Central Service, SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor lines.
The expanded service includes new morning and evening express trains on both the North Central Service and SouthWest Service lines, marking the first time that express service has been available on either rail line.
On the Heritage Corridor, Metra is adding a 7:05 a.m. inbound train from Joliet that arrives at Chicago Union station at 8:12 a.m. In the evening, a 4:50 p.m. departure from Chicago Union Station has been added, arriving in Joliet at 5:56 p.m. This enhanced temporary schedule will begin June 29 and remain in effect until further notice. Click here for the schedule.
Alternate weekday schedules for all Metra service can be found at metrarail.com. Riders on the North Central, SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor should review the new schedules here as there may be changes to departure times as well as the times of intermediate station stops along these routes. Sunday schedules will continue to be used on both weekend days on all lines, including as of Saturday July 4, the Metra Electric Line. Operating Sunday schedules on both weekend days on all lines, means that Saturday service will be suspended on the SouthWest Service Line and the Metra Electric Blue Island Branch Line.
Metra will be prepared to change schedules on all lines to adjust to ridership growth and travel patterns. Metra will continue to closely monitor ridership and will add cars to trains or trains to the schedules to make sure that as ridership grows there will still be plenty of room for physical distancing.
Customers are reminded that Metra is now offering a $10 All-Day Pass. Buying the pass in the Ventra app provides a “Touch Less, Pay Less” option to ride trains safely and affordably. The pass will be available at least through July 31.
Metra is asking its passengers to take responsibility for their own actions. This includes practicing physical distancing, wearing a face covering while riding the train, and staying in their seat and not crowding the aisles or vestibules when the train is approaching their destination. They should also follow all the other CDC recommendations, such as frequent hand washing, covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing, etc.