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65-533: The SouthWest Service ( SWS ) is a Metra commuter rail line, running southwest from Union Station in downtown Chicago, Illinois , to Manhattan, Illinois . Metra does not refer to its lines by color, but the timetable accents for the SouthWest Service line are "Banner Blue," for the Wabash Railroad 's Banner Blue passenger train . The trackage is owned by Metra north of a junction with

130-488: A combined ridership of under 60 people daily, making them two of the least-used stations on Metra's system. Since 2014 annual ridership has declined from 2,659,040 to 2,356,767, an overall decline of 11.4%. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , ridership dropped to 574,815 passengers in 2020. Metra Metra is the descendant of numerous passenger rail services dating to the 1850s. The present system dates to 1974, when

195-471: A flat $ 3.75 fee. Several ticketing options exist for passengers. Riders may choose to purchase one-way tickets, day passes, day pass five-packs, weekend passes, or monthly passes. Metra allows some travelers to purchase reduced fare tickets or even ride for free. These reduced fare and free ride programs are administered by Metra and the RTA . Some pre-college students , youth , senior citizens , members of

260-474: A newly formed Commuter Rail Division, which branded itself as Metra in 1985. Freight rail companies still operate four of Metra's routes under purchase-of-service agreements. Metra owns all rolling stock and is responsible for all stations along with the respective municipalities. Since its inception, Metra has directed more than $ 5 billion into the commuter rail system of the Chicago metropolitan area alongside

325-420: A public transportation infrastructure allowing for intermodal connections to local, regional, national and international transportation services. Parking lots are available adjacent to most suburban Metra stations for passengers connecting with their train by car . Most parking lots are operated by the municipality they are located in. Fees and fines are also assessed by the local municipality; however, parking

390-719: A short walking distance of Union Station as well. A number of suburban Metra stations are also shared with Amtrak as well. The South Shore Line , an interurban line connecting Chicago with the Indiana suburbs and South Bend , originates at Millennium Station and operates along much of the Chicago portion of the Electric District line, as far south as 63rd Street . Per a longstanding noncompete agreement, eastbound South Shore trains only stop at shared Electric District stations to board passengers, and westbound South Shore trains only stop to discharge passengers. In regards to

455-869: A single identity to the many infrastructure components serviced by the Regional Transportation Authority's commuter rail system. However, the system is still legally known as the Commuter Rail Division of the RTA. Today, Metra's operating arm, the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation, operates seven Metra owned routes. Four other routes continue to be operated by Union Pacific (formerly Chicago & North Western ) and BNSF (formerly Burlington Northern ) under contract to Metra. Service throughout

520-544: A single track and a single platform. The platform has an enclosed shelter that is open 24/7 but has no staffed ticket window. The single track is long enough to accommodate out-of-service trains, but due to the station's low train volume, most trains simply arrive and depart. One freight train, the Norfolk Southern Manhattan Local, runs on the track that splits off from the Manhattan station to

585-743: A top priority and dedicate a significant amount of resources to combat these dangers. Starting in the early summer of 2013, Metra has announced plans to up police patrols on to the seven lines the agency operates: the Milwaukee Districts North and West, the North Central Service, the Heritage Corridor, South West Service, Rock Island, and Electric District. The police patrols will not be on the BNSF and Union Pacific train lines because those lines are operated by

650-463: Is located 40.3 miles (64.9 km) from Chicago Union Station , the northern terminus of the line. It is the southernmost station of the entire Metra system. As of 2018, Manhattan is the 227th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 19 weekday boardings. The station's rank is tied with the neighboring Laraway Road station. As of February 15, 2024, Manhattan is served by 10 trains (five in each direction) on weekdays. Three of

715-428: Is one of the safest forms of land travel, compromises to Metra's safety and security can occur through pedestrian accidents, suicide attempts, vehicle collisions, derailment , terrorism and other incidents . Failing to maintain safety and security can result in equipment and infrastructure damage, extensive service disruptions, traumatic injuries and loss of life . Therefore, Metra and other agencies consider safety

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780-695: Is responsible for the safety of all routes and stations. In an effort to help coordinate emergency preparedness and incident management , all Metra police officers are certified in the National Incident Management System . In addition, Metra police works with the Chicago Police Department as a member of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy . Thomas A. Cook was the only Metra police officer that has been killed in

845-427: Is scheduled for completion. Additional mainline trackage will also be built between LaSalle St Station and 74th to handle the increase in traffic. LaSalle Street station will also be expanded. This would relieve congestion at Union Station and improve reliability for the SouthWest Service, as well as allowing more trains to run in each direction. As of February 15, 2024, Metra operates 30 trains (15 in each direction) on

910-416: Is usually free on weekends and most holidays. Mass transit CTA and suburban Pace buses connect with many Metra stations downtown and in the suburbs. Monthly pass holders are offered link-up options with these services. In addition, many intercity bus lines connect with passengers outside of Union Station. The Chicago "L" also has transfers with Metra at some Chicago stations. Most 'L' lines traverse

975-594: The Belt Railway of Chicago at Loomis Boulevard, and is leased from Norfolk Southern Railway south of the junction (NS has trackage rights over Metra's portion). The line south of the curve at the east end of the section aligned with 75th Street was built by the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway , which opened in 1880 to Chicago. That curve was a junction with the Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad , of which

1040-677: The CTA . In January 2023, Metra rolled out a new real-time train tracking website to allow passengers greater visibility into their commute. Since the 19th century, Chicago has been a major hub in the North American rail network. It has more trackage radiating in more directions than any other city in North America. Railroads set up their headquarters in the city and Chicago became a center for building freight cars, passenger cars and diesel locomotives. Early commuter services were run by

1105-518: The Chicago Loop , so Metra passengers can easily transfer to a different Metra line upon their arrival downtown. Metra's urban-centric service remains popular with suburban commuters working downtown, reverse commuters , and those who visit Chicago for recreational activities and tourism . Stations are found throughout Chicago, as well as in suburban Cook , DuPage , Kane , Lake , McHenry , and Will counties—an area largely coextensive with

1170-945: The Chicago metropolitan area . Each station, unless a route or branch terminus, provides travel toward (inbound) and away from (outbound) downtown Chicago. Therefore, a passenger can connect between the city and a suburb or between two points in the suburbs using Metra service. Although Metra's commuter rail system is designed to connect points all over the Chicago metropolitan area, it does provide some intracity connections within Chicago. Metra trains originate from one of four stations in downtown Chicago. Six lines originate at Union Station . The three Union Pacific lines originate at Ogilvie Transportation Center , formerly and still popularly called North Western Station. The Rock Island District originates at LaSalle Street Station . The Metra Electric District originates at Millennium Station , formerly and still often called Randolph Street Terminal. All four terminals are situated within walking distance of

1235-480: The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy , Chicago and North Western , and Milwaukee Road . By the 1930s, Chicago had the world's largest public transportation system, but commuter rail services started to decline. By the mid-1970s, the commuter lines faced an uncertain future. The Burlington Northern , Milwaukee Road, Chicago and North Western and Illinois Central had been losing money for several years, and were using trainsets with passenger cars dating as far back as

1300-569: The Illinois General Assembly established the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) to consolidate transit operations in the Chicago area, including commuter rail as a public utility. The RTA's creation was a result of the anticipated withdrawal of commuter service operated and owned by various private railroad companies in the 1970s. In a 1983 reorganization, the RTA placed commuter rail under

1365-634: The Norfolk Southern Railway in 1982, and for the next decade the line was known as the Norfolk Southern Line ( NS ). The RTA closed the Western Avenue station on May 15, 1984, as part of a cost reduction plan which saw the closure of twelve other lightly used stations and the removal of ticket agents from an additional seventeen stations across the system. On June 1, 1993 Metra took over operations and renamed it

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1430-614: The Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Rail Corporation (NIRC), Metra's operating subsidiary; five of these primarily run over track owned by other railroads, while two (the Electric and Rock Island districts) run entirely on Metra-owned track. Inbound trains on every line at all times run through to their Chicago terminus, however, many outbound trains do not run through to their respective lines' terminus (for example, most trains on

1495-510: The PTC mandate that passed Congress , Metra took steps to meet the deadline. Metra concluded that the December 31, 2015 mandate to have PTC running was an unreasonable requirement. This aligned with the stance taken by much of the railroad industry. This is due to a variety of factors including but not limited to: delays from the government, and the fundamental complexity of building a program from

1560-782: The Suburban Transit Access Route ("STAR" Line). In 2023, Metra announced plans to extend the Milwaukee District West Line to Rockford, Illinois , with intermediate stops at Huntley and Belvidere , by 2027. In August 2024, Metra ran hourly shuttles on the North Central Service between O'Hare International Airport and Union Station during the Democratic National Convention , leading some to question whether more frequent service to O'Hare could be permanently obtained. Such an agreement would require contracts with

1625-544: The Union Pacific West Line from Geneva to Elburn and extended SouthWest Service from Orland Park to Manhattan. In 2012, it boasted 95.8% average on-time performance (measured only for a train's arrivals at its last station no more than six minutes late). It also posted its fourth highest volume in its history despite decreases in employment opportunities in downtown Chicago. Metra continued to seek expansion options and to improve passenger service. Over

1690-485: The United States Armed Forces and persons with disabilities may qualify for these programs. Time-based and geographical restrictions apply to these programs and passengers must ensure they qualify before attempting to purchase special tickets or ride for free. Cook County launched The Fair Transit pilot on January 4, 2021, scheduled to initially last for three years. Under the pilot, all riders on

1755-445: The 1920s. To provide stability to the commuter rail system, the Illinois General Assembly formed the Regional Transportation Authority in 1974. Its purpose was to fund and plan the Chicago region's public transportation. After initially using second-hand equipment, the RTA took delivery of the first new EMD F40PH locomotives in 1976. That F40PH fleet is still in service today. The companies that had long provided commuter rail in

1820-465: The Chicago and Western Indiana service to Dolton, Illinois, was discontinued in 1964. Chicago Great Western had commuter service to DeKalb, Illinois (closed 1906). Santa Fe service to Joliet, Illinois (closed 1903). However, Metra runs service to Joliet, Illinois, on two routes: Heritage Corridor and Rock Island District. Ridership has been slowly declining on all but one line since 2014, as seen below. The figures post-2020 have been drastically affected by

1885-561: The Chicago area continued to operate their lines under contract to the RTA. Less than a decade later the Regional Transportation Authority was already suffering from ongoing financial problems. Additionally, two rail providers, the Rock Island Line and the Milwaukee Road , went bankrupt, forcing the RTA to create the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation to operate their lines directly in 1982. In 1983

1950-475: The Illinois Legislature reorganized the agency. That reorganization left the Regional Transportation Authority in charge of day-to-day operations of all bus, heavy rail and commuter rail services throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. It was also responsible for directing fare and service levels, setting up budgets, finding sources for capital investment and planning. A new Commuter Rail Division

2015-577: The Illinois State Medical Society, after admitting to taking bribes to steer Metra contracts to firms associated with former legislator Roger Stanley and pleading guilty to his part in Illinois's Operation Safe Road scandal. In April 2010, Metra's executive director, Phil Pagano, faced investigation for taking an unauthorized $ 56,000 bonus and was later found to have improperly received $ 475,000 in vacation pay. The day that

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2080-666: The Loop allowing nearby access to all downtown Metra terminals. There are also transfer points between Metra and the 'L' outside of the Loop, such as transfers from the Union Pacific Northwest Line to the Blue Line at Irving Park and Jefferson Park Transit Center ; and from the Union Pacific West Line to the Green Line at Oak Park. 'L' trains announce downtown Metra connections on board when announcing

2145-702: The Metra Electric and Rock Island lines will pay Metra's reduced fare rates. On the Union Pacific North Line , passengers headed to an event at Ravinia Park may ride to the event for free after showing their Ravinia Festival e-ticket to the conductor. Metra employees, the Metra Police Department and other public safety agencies are responsible for maintaining safety and security on its lines, aboard its trains and at stations all to various degrees. Although rail transport

2210-496: The Metra board approved an $ 80 million contract to Parsons Transportation Group. Parsons was the sole bidder and speaks to the complexities of the project. They will be in charge of incorporating various devices from GPS, radio, to trackside antennas into one cohesive system. The group has some experience in this sector previously as Parsons worked with the southern California commuter rail agency Metrolink to install their system. By

2275-468: The Northwest Line). Zones K and M were merged into zone J on July 15, 2018, reducing the number of zones to ten. On February 1, 2024, Metra reduced the number of fare zones from 10 to 4 and labeled each of the four zones by number instead of letter. This was proposed in an effort to simplify its fare structure. In addition, trips not entering or exiting the downtown area (zone 1) are subjected to

2340-544: The SouthWest Service Line on weekdays. Of these, five trains operate to and from Manhattan and 10 operate to and from Orland Park 179th Street . Three of the trains that travel beyond 179th Street serve Laraway Road and Manhattan as "flag to discharge" stops. Since March 2020 and as of January 2023, Saturday service on the SouthWest Service is currently suspended. There is also no service on Sundays or holidays. The Laraway Road and Manhattan stations see

2405-545: The SouthWest Service. The rail line expansion project, which includes 11 miles (18 km) of new track and at least two additional train stations, was completed (except for the Laraway Road station) in January 2006. The number of trains per day was doubled from 16 to 30, 15 in each direction. For years, Pace operated Route 835, whose bus service enhanced the limited train service in the SouthWest Service corridor. With

2470-583: The Union Pacific Northwest Line do not run through to Harvard; instead, terminating at Crystal Lake). █   BNSF █   Heritage Corridor █   Metra Electric █   Milwaukee District North █   Milwaukee District West █   North Central Service █   Rock Island █   SouthWest Service █   Union Pacific North █   Union Pacific Northwest █   Union Pacific West Metra proposed two routes in

2535-524: The Wabash owned one-fifth, and used to reach Dearborn Station in downtown Chicago. Commuter service from Chicago began as early as 1893, with trains running as far south as Orland Park , and by 1909, the service had been extended with several trains operating as far south as Manhattan . The level of service deteriorated in the 1930s, with commuter operations effectively reduced to one train in each direction making local stops from Chicago to Decatur . By 1964,

2600-642: The agency received approximately $ 700 million a year, but Metra claims to need about $ 2 billion a year, which only since 2020 has been accomplished. Because of this, Metra had to cut back on new rolling stock, instead resorting to their Rebuild Programs, in which they rebuild railcars and locomotives with newer state of the art utilities. Rebuilds cost only a fraction as much as buying new rolling stock, such as with their Amerail built cars. Rebuild programs can rebuild aging cars for approximately $ 650,000, whereas buying that same railcar new would be approximately $ 3 million. Metra serves passengers through stations throughout

2665-460: The agency's board was scheduled to discuss his fate, Pagano stepped in front of a moving Metra train in an apparent suicide. Around the time of Pagano's death, allegations also surfaced that a Metra employee demanded a $ 2,000 payoff from the studio that used Metra in the 2011 film Source Code . That employee was later relieved of his duties, and retired. In June 2013, Metra CEO Alex Clifford abruptly resigned his position with no public comment. It

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2730-438: The board's decision. By October 2013, local officials had restored Metra's board to 11 members. After reviewing four candidates, the re-constituted board formally appointed Orseno CEO of Metra in January 2014. In 2014, "a lengthy history of political patronage hiring at" Metra was reported, based on past files. For a long time, Metra was not being funded enough to keep most equipment and rolling stock up to date. On average,

2795-706: The early 2000s: the SouthEast Service , which would connect some portions of the southern suburbs with downtown Chicago; and the Suburban Transit Access Route , which would connect various suburbs with each other without going into downtown. As of 2020 , only the SouthEast Service is still being considered. In 2023, the Illinois Department of Transportation selected Metra as the agency to run restored rail service to Rockford . Several commuter lines were discontinued before Metra

2860-635: The first quarter of 2024, the Union Pacific Railroad is expected to transfer operations of the three Union Pacific lines to Metra. Union Pacific will continue to own and maintain the right-of-way. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Metra experienced record ridership and expanded its services. In 1996, Metra organized its first new line, the North Central Service , running from Union Station to Antioch. By 2006, it added new intermediate stops to that same route, extended

2925-459: The ground up. Moreover, Metra estimates the cost of implementing the system on their 1,100 miles (1,800 km) of track in the Chicago region to be over $ 200 million. The fear is this unfunded mandate will divert scarce capital funds from other essential needs. This includes building and maintaining existing tracks, stations, signals, and other equipment that ensures a safe operating environment for all of Metra's passengers. However, Metra recognizes

2990-673: The inner ring of the Chicago metropolitan area. One station is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin . Metra operates on 11 lines, most of which date from the mid-19th century. Four lines are operated under purchase-of-service agreements. The BNSF Line service is operated by BNSF Railway . The three lines out of the Ogilvie Transportation Center (formerly North Western Station) are operated by the Union Pacific Railroad . The other seven lines are operated by

3055-402: The line of duty thus far. Manhattan station Manhattan is a commuter railroad station on Metra 's SouthWest Service located in the town of Manhattan, Illinois . The station is the southern terminus of the line. The Manhattan station opened on January 30, 2006, as part of a southern extension of the SouthWest Service. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Manhattan is in zone 4 and

3120-542: The need for PTC but needed a more reasonable timeline to implement such a program. This recognition is partially based on Metra's previous accident history. Two noteworthy events were a pair of accidents on the Rock Island District within a span of a couple of years. The first event was a derailment that occurred on October 12, 2003, when a train flew through a 10 mph crossing at 68 mph. A second very similar occurrence happened on September 17, 2005, but

3185-400: The network is provided under the Metra name (in keeping with Metra's goal of providing a single identity for all commuter rail in the region). Metra also owns all rolling stock, controls fares and staffing levels, and is responsible for most of the stations. However, the freight carriers who operate routes under contract use their own employees and control the right-of-way for those routes. By

3250-444: The next 'L' stop. Union Station doubles as both a Metra station and Amtrak 's station in Chicago. In addition to Illinois Service and Hiawatha , Amtrak trains run nationwide including service to states spanning both coastlines . Passengers connecting from Ogilvie Transportation Center can access Union Station through its north platforms on the opposite side of Madison Street , with Millennium and LaSalle stations also within

3315-722: The once daily Chicago–Decatur trains were cut back to Orland Park. After several reorganizations the Wabash Railroad was leased by the Norfolk and Western Railway on October 16, 1964. The single round trip continued under the new ownership, who named the train the Orland Park Cannonball . On May 1, 1971, Amtrak assumed control of most intercity passenger trains in the United States. On this date all intercity services operating into and out of Chicago were either routed into Union Station or discontinued, leaving

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3380-422: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic . Though monthly reports from 2024 show heavy improvement over 2021 figures, they are still below pre-pandemic levels. Peak-direction ridership is at only 56% of pre-pandemic ridership, while other types of weekday travel are between 80% and 95% recovery rates. Systemwide, Saturday and Sunday ridership has fully recovered to pre-pandemic numbers. Transportation in Chicago consists of

3445-421: The outbound trains that stop at the station make a flag stop to discharge all remaining passengers. All trains that serve Manhattan originate or terminate here. Saturday service is currently suspended. Manhattan station consists of a station house and one platform serving a single track; the SouthWest Service operates on only one track from Orland Park 143rd Street southward. The Manhattan station consists of

3510-482: The past three decades, Metra has invested more than $ 5 billion into its infrastructure. That investment has been used to purchase new rolling stock, build new stations, renovate tracks, modernize signal systems and upgrade support facilities. In addition to core improvements on the Union Pacific Northwest and Union Pacific West Lines, planning advanced on two new Metra routes, SouthEast Service and

3575-595: The rail service expansion, ridership on route 835 became so poor that Pace eliminated it on August 17, 2007. Metra started Saturday service on March 21, 2009, with six trains between Union Station and Manhattan. SouthWest Service trains will shift from Union Station to LaSalle Street Station with the reconfiguration of the 75th Street Corridor under the auspices of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE). This will happen no earlier than 2025 when construction

3640-487: The railroads that own them and security falls to those companies. When asked why there were increasing patrols spokesman Michael Gillis said, "There is no particular reason, other than the fact that we want to be more proactive and more deliberately visible to our riders". The Metra Police Department is a special law enforcement agency charged with providing police services to passengers, employees, equipment and property. The department has more than 100 police officers and

3705-412: The remaining board members unanimously elected Don Orseno as interim CEO. (The six-member board was operating with reduced membership and thus lacked the authority to elect a permanent CEO. Orseno and Alex Wiggins shared duties as co-executive directors.) Orseno's long railroad career, beginning with work to set up trains and check doors for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad played favorably in

3770-424: The same zone even though they are on the same line. Historically, the downtown terminals and stations in the vicinity of downtown were classified as zone 'A' and each additional zone represented an added 5 miles (8.0 km) from the downtown terminus. There were originally thirteen fare zones: zones A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, and M (zone L would not have any stations since 1984 when Hartland station closed on

3835-407: The single Orland Park Cannonball as the only train to still use Dearborn Station. Dearborn Station closed, but the commuter train continued to use a small platform and track on the property until 1976 when it relocated to Union Station via a new connection at Alton Junction . The Regional Transportation Authority began to subsidize the service in 1978. N&W merged with Southern Railway to form

3900-578: The two freight railroads - Canadian National , which owns some of the NCS track, and CPKC , which dispatches trains on another portion of the route. Additionally, improved service to O'Hare would likely require major infrastructure upgrades to track, sidings, crossovers, and flyovers, with the potential for dedicated rolling stock another consideration. Metra also has been marred by allegations and investigations of corruption. In April 2002, board member Don Udstuen resigned from both Metra and his executive job with

3965-545: The year 2020, Metra completed installation of the Positive Train Control. This came at a capital cost of $ 400 million and an annual operating cost of $ 20 million. Metra's PTC system works with the trains of 12 other railroad companies. Fare is determined by the distance traveled by a passenger. Each station along every route has generally been placed in a specific zone based on its distance from its respective downtown station. Multiple stations can be placed in

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4030-540: Was created to handle commuter rail operations; along with CTA and Pace , it was one of RTA's three "service boards". The board of the RTA Commuter Rail Division first met in 1984. In an effort to simplify the operation of commuter rail in the Chicago area, in July 1985 it adopted a unified brand for the entire system–Metra, or Met ropolitan Ra il. The newly reorganized Metra service helped to bring

4095-740: Was established. The Illinois Central West Line from present-day Millennium Station to Addison, Illinois, (closed 1931), Pennsylvania Railroad line to Valparaiso, Indiana, (closed 1935), New York Central line from LaSalle Street Station to Elkhart, Indiana, (closed 1964), and four Chicago & North Western lines to St. Charles, Aurora, Freeport, and Kenosha-Harvard (all municipalities in Illinois and Wisconsin, closed 1930–51). The Burlington Route had service between Aurora and West Chicago, Illinois (closed 1943). Chicago Eastern Illinois operated commuter service on this line out of Dearborn Station to Dolton and Momence, respectively. The Chicago and Eastern Illinois commuter line to Momence, Illinois, ended in 1935, while

4160-436: Was later reported that his exit had been demanded by the Metra board, which negotiated a $ 871,000 severance package including a non-disclosure agreement . Clifford's ouster was allegedly arranged because he rejected requests for patronage hiring and promotion, including a request to promote a longtime supporter of State Representative Michael Madigan . In the wake of this scandal, five board members resigned. In August 2013,

4225-410: Was more serious. The latter derailment killed two passengers and injured 117. Both of these incidents could have been prevented if PTC were in place. In both circumstances, PTC would have overridden the engineer and slowed the train down to the appropriate speed to prevent an accident from occurring. Recently, Metra has taken significant steps in the process to fully implementing PTC. On April 22, 2015,

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