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The link in BucktownJim's post has an issue. I found the Metra Spring 2014 Station Boarding/Alighting Count report at "https://www.metrarail.com/sites/default ... mary10.pdf" (I don't know how to make the link a clickable hypertext link).

Does anyone know if the BNSF project is complete? It would be incredible to get some photos of the new construction. I ride the BNSF/Metra service daily, to and from Union Station. Construction has started on the Chicago sub connection at Western Ave. Track panels with concrete ties are stacked alo...

While the Heritage Corridor service is rather sparse, it has some of Metra's fastest downtown-to-suburban terminal trains. All 3 of the weekly PM rush outbound trains are scheduled for 65 minutes, Union Station to Joliet (per the 10/16/2011 timetable). The fastest Rock Island train takes 61 minutes ...

As part of CREATE, it is planned within the next couple of years to move the SouthWest Service from CUS to LaSalle. What are your thoughts on the move? Do you believe that it makes sense? Is worth while? I want to know what you guys think about it. Overall, I think moving the SWS to LaSalle is a go...

This looks like an "out with the old, in with the new" type of upgrade, don't think any actual capacity improvements are involved here... I tend to agree with you. Especially since the project funding was reduced from $6 million in the 2013 budget book to $3.4 million this year. If I coul...

The A-5 Interlocker Renewal project is listed on the Metra Capital Projects website ( http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/about_metra/capitalprojects.html ) under the Signal, Electrical and Communications section, project PE 2938. $3.4 million has been budgeted for 2014, reduced from the 2013 budget ...

Another proposed study for commuter rail service on the CN Freeport sub, this time from 1997: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-03-04/news/9703040181_1_commuter-rail-transportation-projects-regional-transportation-plan . It appears any further action on this idea has fallen off the stove. Ther...

I don't think we really need another Chicago-Elgin commuter line. The suburb-to-suburb commuter line proposed a long time ago for the EJ&E would be more useful. Unfortunately, the increased use of the former J by CN for freight may may make this a lost opportunity. A study for commuter rail ser...

A note about the connection at East Jay between the Freeport Sub and the Leithton Sub (former EJ&E): the connection is poorly situated for freight trains from the west traveling to the CN's Kirk Yard in Gary. The connection is in the north east quadrant of the crossing and eastbound Freeport tra...

The 700 series cars (specifically 741 through 787) have a letterboard above the doors. The 800 series cars (actually 797-820) do not. The 700's were originally designed by the Budd Company based on design criteria of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy railroad, and placed in serice starting in 1950...

Chicago's city/suburb rivalry for transit services and funding will make any RTA/CTA/Metra/PACE make-over a long shot. The suburbs do not trust the City of Chicago and the City does not trust the suburbs. Plus 'sharing' is not part of either side's vocabulary.

Something like fifty of the old CB&Q Budds made it to Michigan in private ownership, 23 or 24 of them were refurbished for the attempted commuter service. A few others might have been stripped down pretty far, like this one that looks like it got damaged in switching: http://www.rrpicturearchiv...

Something like fifty of the old CB&Q Budds made it to Michigan in private ownership, 23 or 24 of them were refurbished for the attempted commuter service. A few others might have been stripped down pretty far, like this one that looks like it got damaged in switching: http://www.rrpicturearchive...

The hotel you are planning to visit is about halfway between the Metra/BNSF station in Downers Grove and the METRA/UPW station in Lombard. Since I am a regular rider of the BNSF line I would be partial to the Downers Grove station. As for restaurants, the Yorktown Mall has a large selection of them ...