Bugle Staff
Metra announced plans to launch a six-month pilot program next month designed to enhance midday service on the Rock Island line.
Starting Aug. 1, the commuter rail agency will add express trains to the Rock Island line, which Metra says will speed the trip between suburban stations and downtown Chicago by 15 to 20 minutes.
“Reducing travel times will encourage more people from the south suburbs to take the train,” Metra Executive Director and CEO Don Orseno said in a statement. “The added inbound express trains are ideal for recreational trips into the city, and the addition of the 1:30 p.m. outbound express will be popular for those working a half day.”
The modified schedule will include three additional inbound express trains and two additional outbound express runs during the midday. The three inbound trains will make all stops from Joliet to Blue Island and then express to the 35th Street/Lou Jones Station or the LaSalle Street Station with the option for passengers to request a flag stop at the 35th Street/Lou Jones.
Three additional inbound trains will originate in Blue Island, make all stops along the Beverly Branch, stop at Gresham and serve 35th Street/Lou Jones with either a flag stop or scheduled stop. Suburban customers going to a Beverly Branch station and branch riders heading to the suburbs will need to transfer at Blue Island. The schedule has been designed to make that transfer easy and convenient, according to Metra.
Two midday outbound express trains have also been added. Metra says these trains will offer express service from LaSalle Street to Blue Island and stations further south with the option of flag stops at 35th Street/Lou Jones. Two midday outbound trains will also accommodate riders along the Rock Island Line’s Beverly Branch. These trains will also make flag stops at 35th Street/Lou Jones. Customers boarding these outbound trains at a Beverly Branch station and who need to travel further south can transfer at Blue Island.
Metra says customers who need to make transfers should tell their conductor on the first leg of their trip so their ticket can be marked appropriately.
In addition, stations marked as flag stops will only allow passengers who notified the conductor to exit the train. Trains will only stop to pick up passengers at flag stops if they are visible to the engineer on the platform.
“This is another example of how we are identifying opportunities to meet market needs within the bounds of our existing resources,” Orseno said.
According to Metra, the enhanced schedule was driven by the success of the weekend express service added to the Rock Island line last year. The service improvement will operate as a six-month pilot project, and ridership will be evaluated before any decision is made to make permanent changes to the schedule.
The added service is expected to cost approximately $290,000 annually.
New timetables will be available shortly on Rock Island trains and stations. The new schedule can also be found at metrarail.com.