How exactly, does Metra go about assigning train numbers for revenue trips?
Some routes, like BNSF seem to follow a certain logical pattern, most weekday trains are in the 1200 series and the weekend trains are in the 1300 series. The same can be said of UP-NW service, with weekday and weekend service in the 600 and 700 series respectively. What I can't figure out though, is why the SWS, HC, and UP-W lines all have train numbers 17 and 19 in the schedule.
Then there's RI. Trains here are in the 400, 500 and 600 series, yet Metra Electric service also uses the 400 and 500 series for the rush hour trains to the South Chicago and Blue Island branches. And in apparent illogical twist, train number 702 is used for the 6:24pm Sat & Sun departure from Joliet, while this number is also used on the 6:35 Sat morning departure from Harvard on the UP-NW line.
I understand that certain numbers can't be used due to deadhead moves, but shouldn't every train Metra runs in revenue service have it's own unique train number? Is there an actual system at work here, or is just arbitrary, where numerical logic is only randomly applied to certain routes?
Some routes, like BNSF seem to follow a certain logical pattern, most weekday trains are in the 1200 series and the weekend trains are in the 1300 series. The same can be said of UP-NW service, with weekday and weekend service in the 600 and 700 series respectively. What I can't figure out though, is why the SWS, HC, and UP-W lines all have train numbers 17 and 19 in the schedule.
Then there's RI. Trains here are in the 400, 500 and 600 series, yet Metra Electric service also uses the 400 and 500 series for the rush hour trains to the South Chicago and Blue Island branches. And in apparent illogical twist, train number 702 is used for the 6:24pm Sat & Sun departure from Joliet, while this number is also used on the 6:35 Sat morning departure from Harvard on the UP-NW line.
I understand that certain numbers can't be used due to deadhead moves, but shouldn't every train Metra runs in revenue service have it's own unique train number? Is there an actual system at work here, or is just arbitrary, where numerical logic is only randomly applied to certain routes?