America's weirdest commuter train: METRA ELECTRIC!
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Date: 2024-01-09
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Comments and reviews: 35
-BurlingtonBuck
5: 55 I had a similar experience at Washington D. C. -s Union Station last summer. Me and my dad were trying to catch a Brunswick Line train to Frederick, MD and we proceeded to the platform where the train was boarding, we boarded what we thought was our train until I noticed -out of service- on the LED display. Confused I asked a MARC employee about if this was the train to Frederick, she was nicer than that Metra cleaning employee when telling me there was another train in front of the one I was currently on, she also pointed out a group of people that I should ask for more information and I promptly thanked her. I asked one of the workers in the group about the other train and they gave me a very jaded and unhelpful response of -I-m not sure- so I decided to find it myself, I walk down the platform and I confirmed there was another commuter train, it was due to leave in 2 minutes so I sprinted back to my dad who was still in the train we originally boarded and frantically told him we needed to get on the train in front of this. We made a mad dash with 3 backpacks and a suitcase in tow running down about 5 car lengths plus a locomotive to get to our train. We barely made it on as 15 seconds later, the doors closed. We were winded but relived to be on the right train.
I am not a huge fan of having multiple trains sharing a platform, but if there could be clearer instructions such as signs in front of the doors of the out of service train that point towards the one passengers should be boarding, that would be great.
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5: 55 I had a similar experience at Washington D. C. -s Union Station last summer. Me and my dad were trying to catch a Brunswick Line train to Frederick, MD and we proceeded to the platform where the train was boarding, we boarded what we thought was our train until I noticed -out of service- on the LED display. Confused I asked a MARC employee about if this was the train to Frederick, she was nicer than that Metra cleaning employee when telling me there was another train in front of the one I was currently on, she also pointed out a group of people that I should ask for more information and I promptly thanked her. I asked one of the workers in the group about the other train and they gave me a very jaded and unhelpful response of -I-m not sure- so I decided to find it myself, I walk down the platform and I confirmed there was another commuter train, it was due to leave in 2 minutes so I sprinted back to my dad who was still in the train we originally boarded and frantically told him we needed to get on the train in front of this. We made a mad dash with 3 backpacks and a suitcase in tow running down about 5 car lengths plus a locomotive to get to our train. We barely made it on as 15 seconds later, the doors closed. We were winded but relived to be on the right train.
I am not a huge fan of having multiple trains sharing a platform, but if there could be clearer instructions such as signs in front of the doors of the out of service train that point towards the one passengers should be boarding, that would be great.
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-ghost307
There were 3 reasons why the electric line was my most hated railroad when I lived in the Chicago area.
1. They were virtually never on time. Their trains were considered -on time- by METRA standards if they were less than 12 minutes late.
2. You weren't allowed to even stand on the platform until 7 minutes before the scheduled departure time, so if you were in a big crowd, it was possible to not even get to the train before they closed the doors in your face and left.
3. They were the only METRA line that a unique (and racist) ticket policy. On the rest of the system, you showed your ticket to the conductor during your trip. On the electric line you needed to run your ticket through the turnstile to get onto the platform, have it checked again by the conductor during your trip, and you had to run your ticket through a turnstile yet again to get off the platform when you arrived. Eventually they relaxed this ridiculous policy, but the unwritten reason was to deter riders who didn't pay. The reason that this policy of checking your ticket 3 times only on this one line of the MERTRA system seems suspicious since the electric line almost exclusively traveled the routes that had stations in 'neighborhoods of color'.
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There were 3 reasons why the electric line was my most hated railroad when I lived in the Chicago area.
1. They were virtually never on time. Their trains were considered -on time- by METRA standards if they were less than 12 minutes late.
2. You weren't allowed to even stand on the platform until 7 minutes before the scheduled departure time, so if you were in a big crowd, it was possible to not even get to the train before they closed the doors in your face and left.
3. They were the only METRA line that a unique (and racist) ticket policy. On the rest of the system, you showed your ticket to the conductor during your trip. On the electric line you needed to run your ticket through the turnstile to get onto the platform, have it checked again by the conductor during your trip, and you had to run your ticket through a turnstile yet again to get off the platform when you arrived. Eventually they relaxed this ridiculous policy, but the unwritten reason was to deter riders who didn't pay. The reason that this policy of checking your ticket 3 times only on this one line of the MERTRA system seems suspicious since the electric line almost exclusively traveled the routes that had stations in 'neighborhoods of color'.
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-kentfrederick8929
You have to remember that long before Metra, the Illinois Central operated its commuter service alongside its intercity passenger and freight service with steam and diesels.
Central Station, located at Roosevelt Road, was a much more hospitable place. It's where trains like the Panama Limited and the City of New Orleans departed and arrived.
Personally, I like the gallery car. I was riding gallery cars on the CB&Q, before it merged with its owners (the GN and the NP) to form the Burlington Northern.
For a ride of 20 to 90 minutes, the gallery car is sufficiently comfortable. The standard 85' coach carries 50 to 75 passengers, whether Amfleet or prior generations of passenger cars.
The gallery car typically carries 138 passengers. So, an 8-car train carries just over 1, 100 passengers.
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You have to remember that long before Metra, the Illinois Central operated its commuter service alongside its intercity passenger and freight service with steam and diesels.
Central Station, located at Roosevelt Road, was a much more hospitable place. It's where trains like the Panama Limited and the City of New Orleans departed and arrived.
Personally, I like the gallery car. I was riding gallery cars on the CB&Q, before it merged with its owners (the GN and the NP) to form the Burlington Northern.
For a ride of 20 to 90 minutes, the gallery car is sufficiently comfortable. The standard 85' coach carries 50 to 75 passengers, whether Amfleet or prior generations of passenger cars.
The gallery car typically carries 138 passengers. So, an 8-car train carries just over 1, 100 passengers.
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-kelleherjw
I never did figure out why you called this line -weird-. Since I grew up riding what was then called the IC (Illinois Central. I suppose It just seems a normal urban commuter line to me. I've lived and visited other areas that had similar cars, though not all electrified. This line doesn't get the attention it deserves in the Chicago Area's Metra System. You rightly pointed out the shabby and very dated condition of the main downtown station, Millennium (formerly Randolph Street) Station. The condition is a shame when you compare other downtown commuter stations like Union and Northwestern. I remember those aqua blue tike walls at Randolph Street from my youth back in the 1950s. Yikes, to see them, but the view also warms my heart with memories. Thank you.
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I never did figure out why you called this line -weird-. Since I grew up riding what was then called the IC (Illinois Central. I suppose It just seems a normal urban commuter line to me. I've lived and visited other areas that had similar cars, though not all electrified. This line doesn't get the attention it deserves in the Chicago Area's Metra System. You rightly pointed out the shabby and very dated condition of the main downtown station, Millennium (formerly Randolph Street) Station. The condition is a shame when you compare other downtown commuter stations like Union and Northwestern. I remember those aqua blue tike walls at Randolph Street from my youth back in the 1950s. Yikes, to see them, but the view also warms my heart with memories. Thank you.
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-erichguenther6055
The design is a hold over from when the private railroads ran the service to try and make a profit from ticket sales. Metra really does not need to collect tickets as it is not trying to turn a profit. They can easily switch to the GO TRANSIT design for commuter cars and it would be warmer in the winter as well as more quiet. Howver for some strange reason they do not want to switch to the honor system and only spot check tickets as other transit agencies do. METRA still wants to collect every ticket. Dallas rail is completely honor system and I'll bet Dallas brings in more revenue per passenger than METRA. Dallas uses the GO TRANSIT car design as well as Stadler Rail Cars. C'mon down and do an eval of Dallas and compare.
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The design is a hold over from when the private railroads ran the service to try and make a profit from ticket sales. Metra really does not need to collect tickets as it is not trying to turn a profit. They can easily switch to the GO TRANSIT design for commuter cars and it would be warmer in the winter as well as more quiet. Howver for some strange reason they do not want to switch to the honor system and only spot check tickets as other transit agencies do. METRA still wants to collect every ticket. Dallas rail is completely honor system and I'll bet Dallas brings in more revenue per passenger than METRA. Dallas uses the GO TRANSIT car design as well as Stadler Rail Cars. C'mon down and do an eval of Dallas and compare.
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-AG-un7dz
Welcome to America. Public transportation here is mostly a -jobs program- to improve employment statistics for certain demographics like affirmative action for minorities and veterans. I'm all for improving the lives of those groups but public transportation should prioritize transportation. Around where I live employers stipulate that you -must have own transportation- in many job advertisements because our public transportation is so unreliable. The main charge of such agencies are lost to many of these employees. like to provide reliable transportation.
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Welcome to America. Public transportation here is mostly a -jobs program- to improve employment statistics for certain demographics like affirmative action for minorities and veterans. I'm all for improving the lives of those groups but public transportation should prioritize transportation. Around where I live employers stipulate that you -must have own transportation- in many job advertisements because our public transportation is so unreliable. The main charge of such agencies are lost to many of these employees. like to provide reliable transportation.
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-coastaku1954
You should really travel up to Toronto and give GO Transit a try. One of the busiest and best run Commuter rail services in North America. I highly recommend the Lakeshore West line, it's their busiest route with the fastest top speeds, Express trains regularly top 90mph/140km/h. The car designs are spacious and high capacity and have become famous in Toronto, the car design GO Transit invented with Hawker-Siddley and now Bombardier is now a common sight across North America, but it all started here in Toronto and built in Thunder Bay
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You should really travel up to Toronto and give GO Transit a try. One of the busiest and best run Commuter rail services in North America. I highly recommend the Lakeshore West line, it's their busiest route with the fastest top speeds, Express trains regularly top 90mph/140km/h. The car designs are spacious and high capacity and have become famous in Toronto, the car design GO Transit invented with Hawker-Siddley and now Bombardier is now a common sight across North America, but it all started here in Toronto and built in Thunder Bay
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-yixnorb5971
Green tint is bright and reflects more heat than smoked glass, which is darker and absorbs more heat. The only thing that would reflect most heat would be a silvery mirror finish but that reflectivity would blind intersecting trains and railroad yard personnel. IE: The new San Diego library has high reflective windows that is blinding drivers on an adjacent freeway. In London a new building with such windows is focusing heat on the street below, enough to actually melt plastic car parts.
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Green tint is bright and reflects more heat than smoked glass, which is darker and absorbs more heat. The only thing that would reflect most heat would be a silvery mirror finish but that reflectivity would blind intersecting trains and railroad yard personnel. IE: The new San Diego library has high reflective windows that is blinding drivers on an adjacent freeway. In London a new building with such windows is focusing heat on the street below, enough to actually melt plastic car parts.
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-flashrocket9158
Whenever I take the Electric Line, it would be to the Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place.
Plus, The Electric Line runs on the route to the south suburbs by way of the old Illinois Central line. That and the South Shore are the only Commuter Lines out of the city. but there has been some talks and desires to electrify the Rock Island line out of LaSalle street to Joliet.
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Whenever I take the Electric Line, it would be to the Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place.
Plus, The Electric Line runs on the route to the south suburbs by way of the old Illinois Central line. That and the South Shore are the only Commuter Lines out of the city. but there has been some talks and desires to electrify the Rock Island line out of LaSalle street to Joliet.
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-dblissmn
I see the interest in the flag stop at 47th, but it might just be the most ridiculous stop on the entire Metra system and there really isn't much in South Kenwood. For Hyde Park, 51-53rd, 55-56-57th, 59th or 63rd, all of which have been rebuilt. Especially 55-56-57, there are lots of interesting shops and places to eat and things to do in that neighborhood.
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I see the interest in the flag stop at 47th, but it might just be the most ridiculous stop on the entire Metra system and there really isn't much in South Kenwood. For Hyde Park, 51-53rd, 55-56-57th, 59th or 63rd, all of which have been rebuilt. Especially 55-56-57, there are lots of interesting shops and places to eat and things to do in that neighborhood.
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-isleman9473
Metra gallery cars have something that has pretty much disappeared from U. S. commuter cars---walkover seats. Most operators have opted for immovable seats, with one half facing forward and one half facing backward. I like the walkovers! That way, if you're on a crowded train and don't want to ride backwards, you can change the direction of the seat.
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Metra gallery cars have something that has pretty much disappeared from U. S. commuter cars---walkover seats. Most operators have opted for immovable seats, with one half facing forward and one half facing backward. I like the walkovers! That way, if you're on a crowded train and don't want to ride backwards, you can change the direction of the seat.
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-jaceksulek
This is all so mid XX century. I don't understand how US does so little to innovative and expand in the public transport aspects. I'm from Poland so we have GDP from another universe but last 20 years public transport we did groundbreaking modernization.
How Flagged Stops on suburban line of such a mega city make it any more convinient?
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This is all so mid XX century. I don't understand how US does so little to innovative and expand in the public transport aspects. I'm from Poland so we have GDP from another universe but last 20 years public transport we did groundbreaking modernization.
How Flagged Stops on suburban line of such a mega city make it any more convinient?
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-fallenshallrise
It always makes me 'laugh' when transit operators either don't stop to let someone off or don't stop to pick someone up because the rider didn't wave their arms or complain loudly enough. Literally their only job is to drive from one stop to the next, stop and let people off and on. When it's on rails they don't even have to steer.
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It always makes me 'laugh' when transit operators either don't stop to let someone off or don't stop to pick someone up because the rider didn't wave their arms or complain loudly enough. Literally their only job is to drive from one stop to the next, stop and let people off and on. When it's on rails they don't even have to steer.
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-jooproos6559
Compared to the Dutch trains its two or three steps behind. Dutch trains dont have someone to check your ticket, you simply cant get out off the station without your ticket. And i dont even comment on that upper level off the train, its ridiculous! Built like a normal level and you can get more passengers in the train.
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Compared to the Dutch trains its two or three steps behind. Dutch trains dont have someone to check your ticket, you simply cant get out off the station without your ticket. And i dont even comment on that upper level off the train, its ridiculous! Built like a normal level and you can get more passengers in the train.
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-BrettWilliamson
Sydney Australia EMU's have some far outer stops where you need to tell the Guard you want to get off, otherwise the driver continues on. All of our EMU are double decker and I think the whole self powered EMU thing may have been invented by our railway. Check out our A and B set trains for our latest versions.
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Sydney Australia EMU's have some far outer stops where you need to tell the Guard you want to get off, otherwise the driver continues on. All of our EMU are double decker and I think the whole self powered EMU thing may have been invented by our railway. Check out our A and B set trains for our latest versions.
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-steelcityboy630
All of Metra's lines would be electrified if the organization didn't reply heavily on freight rails. It's extremely economic. I love the electric district. The cab car is always open both directions, it's financially friendly, it's fast, clean energy. Etc. The ME is definitely the future of railroading
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All of Metra's lines would be electrified if the organization didn't reply heavily on freight rails. It's extremely economic. I love the electric district. The cab car is always open both directions, it's financially friendly, it's fast, clean energy. Etc. The ME is definitely the future of railroading
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-boxsterman77
I don't understand the standards implied by some of the harsh critiques. It's a damn commuter train. It serves a fairly utilitarian, and, thankfully, short task. Would it be nice if each car was like a Pullman car? Sure. But have some perspective.
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I don't understand the standards implied by some of the harsh critiques. It's a damn commuter train. It serves a fairly utilitarian, and, thankfully, short task. Would it be nice if each car was like a Pullman car? Sure. But have some perspective.
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-frankfranks2946
fact: The metra electric goes through some of the shittiest neighborhoods around Chicagos south east side, you got off at 47th because you know it gets terrible from that point on, and 47th at night is a different animal all together
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fact: The metra electric goes through some of the shittiest neighborhoods around Chicagos south east side, you got off at 47th because you know it gets terrible from that point on, and 47th at night is a different animal all together
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-moraimon
I hate Gallery Cars, too! They are very ugly and do not offer good comfort of riding. US commuter rail systems must consider having more ticket gates or turnstiles at stations so that they can eliminate train conductors.
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I hate Gallery Cars, too! They are very ugly and do not offer good comfort of riding. US commuter rail systems must consider having more ticket gates or turnstiles at stations so that they can eliminate train conductors.
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-collectorguy3919
There's zero budget for frills at METRA, but they got a lot of important functionality right. Frugal but not cheap. (except for the cruddy ticket machine)
GO Transit (Toronto area) is an interesting comparison.
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There's zero budget for frills at METRA, but they got a lot of important functionality right. Frugal but not cheap. (except for the cruddy ticket machine)
GO Transit (Toronto area) is an interesting comparison.
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-davidhull1481
Was the audio left off on purpose? I had to stop watching. On the iPhone at least it-s distracting to have to flick back and forth from the subtitles to the picture constantly. Maybe it-s easier or a laptop?
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Was the audio left off on purpose? I had to stop watching. On the iPhone at least it-s distracting to have to flick back and forth from the subtitles to the picture constantly. Maybe it-s easier or a laptop?
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train
This man always picks the worst stations and finds every reason to complain about the service. I wish he would ride the CTA's Red Line and review every station from Roosevelt all the way to 95th/Dan Ryan.
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This man always picks the worst stations and finds every reason to complain about the service. I wish he would ride the CTA's Red Line and review every station from Roosevelt all the way to 95th/Dan Ryan.
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-geneard639
I remember the Highliner I's run by Illinois Central Gulf back in the 70's. Nice ride, could get you from Richton Park to downtown way quicker than driving any day of the week.
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I remember the Highliner I's run by Illinois Central Gulf back in the 70's. Nice ride, could get you from Richton Park to downtown way quicker than driving any day of the week.
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-alxboca
I gotta say, this is not something Chicago can or should be proud of. Disgusting dirty passageways, old and dilapidated facilities, and old, rickety trains. Just take an Uber.
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I gotta say, this is not something Chicago can or should be proud of. Disgusting dirty passageways, old and dilapidated facilities, and old, rickety trains. Just take an Uber.
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-daffyduk77
Seems hardly worth having a top section with maybe less than half the capacity of the bottom one. And I can't understand how they check tickets / why they do it like that?
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Seems hardly worth having a top section with maybe less than half the capacity of the bottom one. And I can't understand how they check tickets / why they do it like that?
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train
Great video. Just wondering, what is the thinking behind the red and white stripes on the ends? Is there a concern about lack of visibility? Cheaper than a headlight perhaps?
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Great video. Just wondering, what is the thinking behind the red and white stripes on the ends? Is there a concern about lack of visibility? Cheaper than a headlight perhaps?
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-ViniciusSC10
I was watching some videos on the RER and Trasilien yesterday, it-s bizarre to compare those two with Metra. So many missed opportunities to build a good system.
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I was watching some videos on the RER and Trasilien yesterday, it-s bizarre to compare those two with Metra. So many missed opportunities to build a good system.
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-reinatakagawa
3: 31 You don't actually really need any aerodynamic shapes for operational speeds below 140km/h, it doesn't really have sufficient effect at that point
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3: 31 You don't actually really need any aerodynamic shapes for operational speeds below 140km/h, it doesn't really have sufficient effect at that point
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-leereeder2293
Metra Electric actually runs 3 different lines as 1 goes to 91st -South Shore the main line goes to University Park and the last one goes to Blue Island
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Metra Electric actually runs 3 different lines as 1 goes to 91st -South Shore the main line goes to University Park and the last one goes to Blue Island
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-BoardroomBuddha
Umm. you are taking the South Shore line through the worst parts of the city. I hope you'll do a review of the North Shore line. it's very different.
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Umm. you are taking the South Shore line through the worst parts of the city. I hope you'll do a review of the North Shore line. it's very different.
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-Joshua-Samarita
What I hate about metra, they tell you it-s already boarding, and the train is either not in the platform, yet or the door is still close. --
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What I hate about metra, they tell you it-s already boarding, and the train is either not in the platform, yet or the door is still close. --
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-jeffkasper6251
I'd put your bag under the seat you're sitting in or put it on the window seat and sit in the aisle seat. Otherwise it's going to get stolen.
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I'd put your bag under the seat you're sitting in or put it on the window seat and sit in the aisle seat. Otherwise it's going to get stolen.
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-mx338
Why would order such awful, dated looking, noisy trains when you cold also have ordered a proper modern commuter train like a Stadler KISS instead.
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Why would order such awful, dated looking, noisy trains when you cold also have ordered a proper modern commuter train like a Stadler KISS instead.
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-superiorjr154
Is it me or do the Metra electric train cars seem a little bit lower down? Or could it be the heightened platform at millennium station?
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Is it me or do the Metra electric train cars seem a little bit lower down? Or could it be the heightened platform at millennium station?
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-cyberi4a
The Amtrak trains through my city are flag stops like your stop was.
I'm guessing people already said the green windows block suns heat.
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The Amtrak trains through my city are flag stops like your stop was.
I'm guessing people already said the green windows block suns heat.
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