Based on media reports and anecdotal evidence, I'd undoubtedly say yes.
As early as 7:30am, masses of people dressed in seas of blue were literally pouring out of the downtown terminals. I work across the street from Ogilvie Transportation Center and every few minutes when a train arrives, seas of blue clad dressed people would pour out of the terminals.
One co-worker of mine got on a BNSF Napervile express train at Aurora and it was already SRO, swinging-by-the-rafters full BEFORE it got to Route 59. And this was a train that arrived at CUS before 7:30am.
The rest of the morning seemed to live up to what was reported.
After 1pm, things started to get fun.
I boarded BNSF extra train 9533, which was a Downers Grove express that left CUS at 1:28pm. This was an 11 car train that departed from track 2. I boarded this train with about 2 minutes to spare before the train was "scheduled" to depart. All of the train's doors were closed except for the two cars closest to the locomotive. The entire train resembled riding a CTA train during the height of rush hour...all cars full, all seats taken, SRO, swinging-by-the-rafters. This train departed about 5 minutes later. The practice was to fill the entire train then leave when full. This particular train continued to remain at or near capacity until at least Naperville, where I got off. Along the ride, it appeared as if BNSF significantly curtailed freight operations, as this run did not pass a single freight train. It also did not go center track until West Hinsdale. 9533 followed extra train 9407, a local making most stops to Fairview on MT1 until the West Hinsdale crossovers, then went center track to Fairview before returning to MT1 for the local run into Aurora.
While waiting at Naperville for BNSF train 1272 for the return to CUS, I saw one eastbound deadhead running back to CUS. The deadhead was an 11 car equipment train that was train 9535, which was a Naperville/59 express. At this point while at Naperville, this is where the madness at the downtown terminals was presumably occurring. 1272 arrived on-time in Naperville and made its normal stops and run to CUS. Along the run we passed one westbound freight train running center track and an eastbound equipment train later passed, also on the center track. Arrived back at CUS just after 5pm and this is where curious observation begins. It should also be noted that the engineer of 1272 was sounding the horn in short pulses while pulling in on track 4.
Next to my train on track 2 is BNSF 1257, which had not departed shortly after 5pm, had all of its doors closed, and was SRO in all 11 cars. While walking back to the concourse, 1257 departed. Still lots of people in the south concourse but it appeared crowds were slowly thinning down as it got closer to 5:30pm. There's constant announcements being made for trains on all lines, since equipment was arriving close to scheduled departure times or in some cases a few minutes late. Equipment for BNSF 1267 and 1269 both arrived close to their scheduled departure times. The engineer of 1267 also sounded the horn in short pulses while pulling in on track 2. All of the BNSF odd numbered trains in the 1260 series departed when full, no more than 5-10 min after its scheduled departure times.
Equipment for 1275 and 1279 was announced as being delayed and will arrive close to their scheduled departure times due to an alleged switch problem just outside the south end of CUS. Both of these train's equipment don't come from 14th St, they come from the road after earlier outbound runs. Equipment for 1275 arrived on track 14 3 minutes before its 5:41 departure, 1279's equipment arrived on track 12 6 minutes after its 5:49 departure. At this point, crowds have thinned to more normal levels and both of these trains loaded pretty quickly and got out, no more than 10 minutes after their scheduled departure times.
In the end, at least on the BNSF end I think service ran as best as it could given the circumstances. I didn't hear of any breakdowns or incidents, just lots of people taking the trains. In the south concourse, there were lots of clearly marked Metra and BNSF personnel directing and helping people. I've seen the photos of the crush of people at CUS and also OTC, but all told I think Friday was handled very well.
As early as 7:30am, masses of people dressed in seas of blue were literally pouring out of the downtown terminals. I work across the street from Ogilvie Transportation Center and every few minutes when a train arrives, seas of blue clad dressed people would pour out of the terminals.
One co-worker of mine got on a BNSF Napervile express train at Aurora and it was already SRO, swinging-by-the-rafters full BEFORE it got to Route 59. And this was a train that arrived at CUS before 7:30am.
The rest of the morning seemed to live up to what was reported.
After 1pm, things started to get fun.
I boarded BNSF extra train 9533, which was a Downers Grove express that left CUS at 1:28pm. This was an 11 car train that departed from track 2. I boarded this train with about 2 minutes to spare before the train was "scheduled" to depart. All of the train's doors were closed except for the two cars closest to the locomotive. The entire train resembled riding a CTA train during the height of rush hour...all cars full, all seats taken, SRO, swinging-by-the-rafters. This train departed about 5 minutes later. The practice was to fill the entire train then leave when full. This particular train continued to remain at or near capacity until at least Naperville, where I got off. Along the ride, it appeared as if BNSF significantly curtailed freight operations, as this run did not pass a single freight train. It also did not go center track until West Hinsdale. 9533 followed extra train 9407, a local making most stops to Fairview on MT1 until the West Hinsdale crossovers, then went center track to Fairview before returning to MT1 for the local run into Aurora.
While waiting at Naperville for BNSF train 1272 for the return to CUS, I saw one eastbound deadhead running back to CUS. The deadhead was an 11 car equipment train that was train 9535, which was a Naperville/59 express. At this point while at Naperville, this is where the madness at the downtown terminals was presumably occurring. 1272 arrived on-time in Naperville and made its normal stops and run to CUS. Along the run we passed one westbound freight train running center track and an eastbound equipment train later passed, also on the center track. Arrived back at CUS just after 5pm and this is where curious observation begins. It should also be noted that the engineer of 1272 was sounding the horn in short pulses while pulling in on track 4.
Next to my train on track 2 is BNSF 1257, which had not departed shortly after 5pm, had all of its doors closed, and was SRO in all 11 cars. While walking back to the concourse, 1257 departed. Still lots of people in the south concourse but it appeared crowds were slowly thinning down as it got closer to 5:30pm. There's constant announcements being made for trains on all lines, since equipment was arriving close to scheduled departure times or in some cases a few minutes late. Equipment for BNSF 1267 and 1269 both arrived close to their scheduled departure times. The engineer of 1267 also sounded the horn in short pulses while pulling in on track 2. All of the BNSF odd numbered trains in the 1260 series departed when full, no more than 5-10 min after its scheduled departure times.
Equipment for 1275 and 1279 was announced as being delayed and will arrive close to their scheduled departure times due to an alleged switch problem just outside the south end of CUS. Both of these train's equipment don't come from 14th St, they come from the road after earlier outbound runs. Equipment for 1275 arrived on track 14 3 minutes before its 5:41 departure, 1279's equipment arrived on track 12 6 minutes after its 5:49 departure. At this point, crowds have thinned to more normal levels and both of these trains loaded pretty quickly and got out, no more than 10 minutes after their scheduled departure times.
In the end, at least on the BNSF end I think service ran as best as it could given the circumstances. I didn't hear of any breakdowns or incidents, just lots of people taking the trains. In the south concourse, there were lots of clearly marked Metra and BNSF personnel directing and helping people. I've seen the photos of the crush of people at CUS and also OTC, but all told I think Friday was handled very well.
