by doepack
Since the new start services have been in place for at least 2 weeks now, I thought it would be a good time to weigh in with all of the riders' general criticisms, comments, and suggestions about the new services, and perhaps discuss how Metra could've taken a different approach to some of the issues:
NCS: No doubt, there have been many complaints about the newly expanded service, ranging from no rush hour express service, the first inbound train doesn't arrive downtown until 6:55am, plus only one other evening departure after 7pm. In fact, if you look closely enough, the new NCS schedule has a lot in common with the old SWS schedule, in terms of the service levels provided. But despite the fact that many of the suburbs along this route are also served by nearby full-service routes MDN (and UP-NW to a certain extent), service isn't still quite as flexible as many passengers had hoped. Much of it has to do with CN's heavy freight traffic of course, and this is also the result of the inability to double-track the entire line between B-12 and Antioch, meaning that there are still capacity constraints yet to be addressed.
It's pretty telling that on another list, someone had proposed the idea of modifying several existing north suburban Pace routes in areas served directly by NCS in the later evenings to compensate for the general lack of NCS evening rail service, or at least provide a connecting feeding service for passengers to Metra stations with better overall service; again such as UP-NW and MDN. This could be particularly beneficial to O'hare employees that work second or third shift, and who generally could use more public transit options going to/from work, but it seems that at least under the current arrangement, NCS won't play as large a role as it could have.
SWS: The expanded service has been pretty well received for the most part, although it's my opinion that train 823 could've been moved back 15 min. to a 1615 CUS departure. The current gap between the 1440 and 1630 departures is indeed too long, especially for that time of day, and Metra definitely needs to address that. It's strangely ironic that there was better service during this time of day on the old schedule, with no more than a 90-minute gap between trains, which should be restored. But on the plus side, it's good to see that this route has recently had its nine-car trains restored in conjunction with the expanded service.
In related news, the Pace board has recently approved changes to route 835, effective 3/6. Route will now operate between downtown Chicago (Monroe/Wabash) and the Worth Metra station, making four northbound AM trips and four southbound PM trips, Monday thru Friday, with no weekend sevice (which is odd, since there's no weekend rail service). Regular Pace fares are in effect, no Metra tickets of any kind will no longer be allowed. Route is scheduled to run until 4/15, after which it may be discontinued.
UPW : This one seems to be doing pretty well, so far the greatest benefit has come from the additional parking available at LaFox and Elburn, which has significantly eased the parking strain at Geneva. Plus, the added capacity with the new third track between Elburn and Peck Road has kept Metra and UP freight traffic flowing pretty well, with minimal interference to each most of the time. The only missing piece to the puzzle right now is a permanent station structure at Elburn, which doesn't even have a station sign on the platform right now, and will also replace the "trailer" posing as a waiting room with a wooden wheelchair ramp. Thank God that's only temporary...
NCS: No doubt, there have been many complaints about the newly expanded service, ranging from no rush hour express service, the first inbound train doesn't arrive downtown until 6:55am, plus only one other evening departure after 7pm. In fact, if you look closely enough, the new NCS schedule has a lot in common with the old SWS schedule, in terms of the service levels provided. But despite the fact that many of the suburbs along this route are also served by nearby full-service routes MDN (and UP-NW to a certain extent), service isn't still quite as flexible as many passengers had hoped. Much of it has to do with CN's heavy freight traffic of course, and this is also the result of the inability to double-track the entire line between B-12 and Antioch, meaning that there are still capacity constraints yet to be addressed.
It's pretty telling that on another list, someone had proposed the idea of modifying several existing north suburban Pace routes in areas served directly by NCS in the later evenings to compensate for the general lack of NCS evening rail service, or at least provide a connecting feeding service for passengers to Metra stations with better overall service; again such as UP-NW and MDN. This could be particularly beneficial to O'hare employees that work second or third shift, and who generally could use more public transit options going to/from work, but it seems that at least under the current arrangement, NCS won't play as large a role as it could have.
SWS: The expanded service has been pretty well received for the most part, although it's my opinion that train 823 could've been moved back 15 min. to a 1615 CUS departure. The current gap between the 1440 and 1630 departures is indeed too long, especially for that time of day, and Metra definitely needs to address that. It's strangely ironic that there was better service during this time of day on the old schedule, with no more than a 90-minute gap between trains, which should be restored. But on the plus side, it's good to see that this route has recently had its nine-car trains restored in conjunction with the expanded service.
In related news, the Pace board has recently approved changes to route 835, effective 3/6. Route will now operate between downtown Chicago (Monroe/Wabash) and the Worth Metra station, making four northbound AM trips and four southbound PM trips, Monday thru Friday, with no weekend sevice (which is odd, since there's no weekend rail service). Regular Pace fares are in effect, no Metra tickets of any kind will no longer be allowed. Route is scheduled to run until 4/15, after which it may be discontinued.
UPW : This one seems to be doing pretty well, so far the greatest benefit has come from the additional parking available at LaFox and Elburn, which has significantly eased the parking strain at Geneva. Plus, the added capacity with the new third track between Elburn and Peck Road has kept Metra and UP freight traffic flowing pretty well, with minimal interference to each most of the time. The only missing piece to the puzzle right now is a permanent station structure at Elburn, which doesn't even have a station sign on the platform right now, and will also replace the "trailer" posing as a waiting room with a wooden wheelchair ramp. Thank God that's only temporary...
--Dorian--
