Metra Planning Minor Schedule Changes On 4 Lines
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Metra plans schedule adjustments it is characterizing as minor, but to make sure, it wants input from riders.
Most of the changes are a minute here or two minutes there -- along the Milwaukee North and Milwaukee West lines, and for certain trains on the SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor lines.
But two Milwaukee District North Line trains would leave terminals 10 minutes earlier.
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Metra spokesman Michael Gillis said one is the train that currently leaves Chicago Union Station at 2:35 p.m.; that would be moved up to 2:25 p.m. to avoid delays turning the train for two succeeding runs.
The other currently leaves Fox Lake at 7:25 p.m. Gillis said it has a conflict with an outbound train on a stretch of single track. Moving the departure to 7:15 p.m. is expected to eliminate that conflict.
As inconsequential as the changes may seem to most, Gillis said planners realize that even a difference of a minute or two can create big disruptions for some riders on set schedules.
Riders can comment through Sept. 23 over the phone, on Metra's Web site or by e-mail.
Metra's customer service line is (312) 322-6777 and is available weekdays from a.m. until 5 p.m. The Web site is www.metrarail.com, and the e-mail address is onthebilevel@metrarr.com.
