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Metra ending Rock Island midday express service Sept. 11, 2017


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 11 July 2016 - 04:25 PM

Metra news release:

 

Metra to add midday express service on Rock Island Line

 

 

(July 11, 2016) – Beginning Aug. 1, Metra will launch a trial program to enhance midday service on the Rock Island Line by adding express trains that will speed the trip between suburban stations and downtown Chicago by 15 to 20 minutes.

 

Metra is modifying its schedule to add three inbound express trains and two 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.

 

Two midday outbound express trains have also been added. 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 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 needing to travel further south can make a convenient transfer at Blue Island.

 

Customers wishing to make transfers should tell their conductor on the first leg of their trip so their ticket can be marked appropriately. In addition, at stations marked as flag stops, the train will stop to discharge passengers only if the passengers notify the conductor and will stop to pick up passengers only if they are visible to the engineer on the platform.

 

“Reducing travel times will encourage more people from the south suburbs to take the train. 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,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno.  “This is another example of how we are identifying opportunities to meet market needs within the bounds of our existing resources.”

 

The enhanced schedule was driven by the success of the weekend express service added last year, which has proven to be popular with customers.  

 

The service improvement will operate as a six-month pilot project. Ridership will be evaluated before any decision is made to make a permanent change to the Rock Island schedule. The added service is expected to cost about $290,000 annually.

 

A summary of the changes accompanies this release. New timetables will be available shortly on Rock Island trains and stations. The new schedule also can be found at metrarail.com.

 

 



#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 14 July 2016 - 04:37 PM

The Herald-News, Joliet, IL 7/13:
 

Metra to add express trains on Rock Island Line

 

JOLIET – Metra intends to launch a trial program next month to enhance midday service on the Rock Island Line by adding express trains that should shave 15 to 20 minutes off the trip between suburban stations and downtown Chicago.

 

The six-month pilot project is set to start Aug. 1, and ridership will be evaluated before any permanent changes would be made to the Rock Island schedule. The added service is expected to cost about $290,000 annually, according to a news release from the city of Joliet.

 

The Rock Island schedule will be modified to add three inbound express trains and two outbound express runs during the midday, according to the news release.  .  .  .

 

Continue here.



#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 17 August 2017 - 10:47 AM

Metra news release:

 
Metra to end Rock Island midday express service Sept. 11  
 
(August 16, 2017) - Beginning Monday, Sept. 11, the midday express service schedule on Metra’s Rock Island Line will revert to local service, ending a yearlong pilot program that offered midday express service between Blue Island and Chicago.  There are other minor adjustments to the weekday schedule; there are no changes to the weekend schedule. You can view the new outbound weekday schedule here and the new inbound weekday schedule here.

 

In 2016, Metra partnered with the RTA on a pilot project to provide midday express service on the Rock Island Line. The service added three inbound express trains between Blue Island and Chicago and two outbound express trains shortening travel time for suburban riders by 15 to 20 minutes. One midday express train will remain. Train 518, which departs Joliet at 2:21 p.m. and expresses from Blue Island Vermont Street to La Salle Street Station, will continue to operate.

 

“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to achieve ridership numbers that made the midday express service financially sustainable,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “We will continue to explore cost effective ways to enhance service on all our lines.”

 

In addition to the discontinuation of the midday express service, there will be additional minor adjustments to the Rock Island weekday schedule starting Sept. 11. The schedule changes are being implemented to facilitate passenger transfers and better reflect operating conditions. They include:

  • Train 406 will depart Joliet and all stations en route two minutes earlier to facilitate transfers to the Metra Electric Blue Island train at 6:55 a.m.
  • Train 600’s scheduled arrival time at LaSalle Street Station will be adjusted to add three minutes. The train will now be scheduled to arrive at 6:07 a.m.
  • Inbound Train 718 will be renumbered as Train 618 and will depart Blue Island/Vermont Street at 3:23 p.m. and make all stops, arriving at LaSalle Street Station at 4:11 p.m. 
  • Minor run time adjustments will be made to Train 413, which departs LaSalle Street Station at 4:57 p.m.

Printed schedules will be available the week of Sept. 4.

 

 



#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 06 September 2017 - 10:44 AM

Metra news release:

New Metra Electric, Rock Island schedules begin Monday  
(September 5, 2017) - Metra reminds its Metra Electric and Rock Island Line customers that new schedules go into effect Monday, Sept. 11.

 

The agency announced in August it had finalized its revision of the Metra Electric Line schedule, making several adjustments to the initial proposal in response to customer feedback at informational meetings and via email. Click here to see the new schedule.

 

The most significant changes between the proposed version and the final schedule are the restoration of one late-night outbound train on the South Chicago Branch and the restoration of service on Saturdays on the Blue Island Branch, albeit reduced to four inbound and four outbound trains. Other modifications to the proposed schedule include different departure times and/or different station stops on certain trains to accommodate a variety of customer concerns.

 

Also beginning Monday, the midday express service schedule on Metra’s Rock Island Line will revert to local service, ending a yearlong pilot program that offered midday express service between Blue Island and Chicago. There are other minor adjustments to the weekday schedule; there are no changes to the weekend schedule. You can view the new outbound weekday schedule here and the new inbound weekday schedule here.

 

Printed schedules for both lines are available as of this week.

 

 






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