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Everyone: With the major changes to Metra fares coming on February 1, 2024 I have some thoughts here - https://metra.com/2024FarePlan 1-Which BNSF Aurora Line Stations will be getting TVMs and how many at each? As example LIRR stations with TVMs have on average two machines available... 3-The new f...

METX505 saw its first revenue run today - 6/20/23. It was on BNSF train 1223 as a part of a double header with METX211 leading. In some railfan videos posted on youtube, there appeared to be an engineer in the cab of METX505.

Union Pacific Transferring Commuter Rail Services to Metra Transfer expected to result in seamless commuter experience; completion anticipated first quarter 2024 CHICAGO, IL., MARCH 30, 2023 https://www.up.com/media/releases/metra-commuter-rail-nr-230330.htm?agfc=NewsRelease&agfm=LinkedIn&ag...

This could begin to spark some debate and could be a good poll question. UP west to DeKalb or BNSF to Kendall County? Back the topic at hand. Only excerpts from the article are posted. Firm begins DeKalb Metra study By Colin Kempsell January 31, 2023 https://northernstar.info/102763/news/metra-rail-...

So when do we expect to see the SD70MACHs on the rails? This article sheds some great info. https://railfan.com/more-metra-macs-arrive-in-chicago/ More Metra MACs Arrive in Chicago By Justin Franz January 19, 2023 CHICAGO — Metra expects to begin testing its new SD70MACH locomotives this spring, the...

Virtual Railfan had captured 313 and 314 behind 301 and 309 on (I presume) the California Zephyr at Galesburg, IL. Are ACL-42s regularly on that route now? Not yet. In fact since 301 and 309 powered California Zephyr #6 on August 26, 2022 there was only one other instance of an ALC-42 on the CZ but...

Not a huge change, but goes to show when the voices are loud enough, it’s a good chance to listen. https://metra.com/newsroom/stop-being-added-bnsf-train-aid-students Stop being added to BNSF train to aid students Tuesday, November 01, 2022 A stop will be added to an outbound BNSF Line train startin...

Won’t happen. Biggest roadblocks are funding, vertical clearance at Union Station. Most importantly, UP and BNSF owns their respective lines.

Wondering all along when the second segment of third track construction along the UP-W between West Chicago and Geneva was going to begin. It has recently started and will go into summer of 2024. The city of Geneva has a page outlining the details of the project and there is a progress blog as well....

Coming right from the source:
https://twitter.com/metra/status/157989 ... eFfx7HF2lw

Metra’s instagram page showed an unveiling of SD70MACH number 500. It is painted in RTA heritage colors. The post mentions that the units will be delivered at a rate of one per month beginning in November.

I'll be in Chicago in a couple weeks and plan on going for a joyride on the BNSF line for the whole length (I'll buy the $10 Ventra day pass in the app) I have a few questions: 1. How often do trains run late? 2. I read somewhere that all trains originate in Aurora. Does that mean that westbound tr...

Depends. A lot of accidents are caused by pedestrians going around or under lowered gates; fencing the right-of-way won't stop that. One of the most appalling train vs pedestrian incidents happened in Clarendon Hills a few years ago during national rail safety week while a safety event was taking p...

M/BNSF: I agree with you concerning the importance of the Prospect Avenue grade crossing to CH Village... Elimination of that grade crossing without a overhead bridge or underpass would split Clarendon Hills in half with the nearest crossings in West Hinsdale and Westmont even busier then they alre...

Has there been any thoughts in the past about attempting to close or eliminate the Prospect Avenue crossing at Clarendon Hills station? Would the Village of CH be able to function without that crossing open? Having Metra and CH PD keep watch on the crossing and station area will be helpful - at lea...