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Home , Alton Railroad, Arrow (MILW train), BNSF Railway (Metra), Heritage Corridor, Metra, North Central Service

ON THE

BI-LEVEL Commuter Newsletter, March 2012

CLIFF NOTES A brief history of system hat is Metra? tional. The RTA did not at first W You may think there’s directly operate an easy answer to that question, service but paid the railroads to and in one sense, there is. Metra do so under purchase-of-service is the label we’ve been putting agreements. It also began to on commuter rail service in the reverse decades of disinvestment area since 1984. Behind in the overall commuter rail that simple name, however, lies system, primarily by buying new a convoluted locomotives and cars. history and However, the bankruptcies of a complex, the Rock Island and the Milwau- multi-layered kee Road railroads changed the system. rules of the game. The RTA took To under- over the commuter operations stand how and eventually bought the tracks Alex Clifford Metra oper- of those railroads. It created a Metra CEO ates, it really commuter rail division to operate helps to know those lines in 1982. how Metra came about and how The RTA was reorganized Metra is composed. by Springfield in 1983, and Chicago has always been the something called the Commuter railroad center of the nation, Rail Service Board was cre- and it has had commuter ated to oversee commuter rail almost as long as it has had any operations. At the same time, trains. Rail service peaked in a suburban bus division () the 1930s, when Chicago had was created. RTA remained as the largest public transportation the parent organization for the system in the world. CTA, Metra and Pace, which But by the late 1960s and are known as the three service early 1970s, the system was fail- boards. ing across the region, with the The Commuter Rail Service CTA, suburban bus companies Board operated the Rock Island 1984 came up with the “Metra” Central Gulf’s electrified com- and freight railroads experienc- line and the two name as a service mark for the muter line in 1987 and started ing big financial losses. To keep lines directly. It operated the entire system (short for “Metro- operating it directly as the Metra the system running, voters in the remaining seven lines indirectly, politan Rail”). The idea was to Electric Line. Metra also took six-county Chicago area cre- through purchase-of service bring a unifying identity to all over operation of what is now the ated the Regional Transportation agreements with Central the various components, no mat- line, which Authority in 1974. Gulf, the Burlington Northern, ter who owned or operated them. ran on tracks then owned by ICG Its mission was to coordinate the Chicago & North Western That system still is in place, and now owned by Canadian and assist public transporta- and the Norfolk Southern. although the ownership and/or National. tion and to serve as the conduit Due to the complicated and operators of several lines have That same year it also as- for state and federal subsidies patchwork nature of commuter changed. sumed ownership of the Milwau- needed to keep the system opera- rail at the time, the rail board in Metra bought the Illinois (See Metra on Page 3)

WWW.METRARAIL.COM 2 ON THE BI-LEVEL SOUNDSOUND OFFOFF Something different in his letter. If the former, you On the Bi-Level should feel somewhat vindicated. Published by Metra’s Media I always look forward to a If the latter, you have violated Relations Department. Send fresh collection of Sound Off your promise to Jason of limiting letters, questions or feedback to letters, but I offer something a your mistakes to three or less. On the Bi-Level, Metra, 547 W. little bit different. My time Jackson, Chicago IL, 60661- Please investigate this mystery, as 5717. Or e-mail onthebilevel@ is short and I take those moments I’m sure all Metra riders are on metrarr.com. to sketch fellow passengers. At- the edge of their seats to find out We can’t guarantee all letters tached are a couple from my col- the answer. will be printed or answered. lection that I like to call “Strang- Please keep letters to less than Yours in seeking perfection, 200 words and include your first ers On A Train.” Enjoy! Paul name, hometown and what line NEN you ride. (Names are not re- We are not nearly so devious quired but strongly encouraged.) Thanks very much. We’re We reserve the right to edit letter as to intentionally insert an error for length and grammar. happy to publish them for our into Jason’s letter to make us look riders’ enjoyment. Board of Directors better. It’s more a matter of us Another aisle view being oblivious and not catching Larry A. Huggins the error in his original. We offer Vice Chairman Dear Sick of Self-Centered- our apologies to all. Chicago ness: The perfect response to Jack Schaffer the self-centered human being Belated Valentines Treasurer wishing to save a seat for a friend McHenry County I want to thank two angels boarding down the line....or any who ride the SouthWest line and other seat saver on any other Arlene J. Mulder keep a watchful eye for forget- Secretary train is... “Then I’ll just enjoy ful people like me. Last month Suburban Cook County this seat until your friend arrives, I got up from my seat as we thanks!”....and sit down. approached and Paul C. Darley Aisle Sitter, Director my monthly pass was still on the DuPage County Steve write in to us, but we hereby give seatback. The woman seated next him kudos – and our thanks – in Don A. De Graff to me spotted it and tried to catch That really is the perfect this space. He deserves it not me, but I had left in a hurry for Director response. Suburban Cook County only for his inquiry to us but also a meeting. She spotted my cell And another for doing it in such a humorous number on the back of my ticket, James C. LaBelle manner. For the record, the word made a call to let me know she Director This seems so simple – if you “site” was somehow dropped Lake County found it and then turned it into REALLY want an aisle seat, why from that headline during the the Lost & Found at the Ticket Mike McCoy don’t you sit next to someone who printing process. And yes, in Office (they called too!). I’m Director took the window seat??? case you’re wondering, we have Kane County grateful for the moment I took A rider already taken another look at our to put my info on the back of my Brad S. O’Halloran printing. ticket and a thoughtful rider who Director Now we’re thinkin! took the time from her busy day Suburban Cook County Picking a nit-picker Speaking of looks to do a good deed. Jack E. Partelow In your January edition, a rid- Three weeks later, my ear Director Regarding your January issue, er named Jason called Metra out muffs fell to the seat as I dug for Will County did someone really think “Take for some grammatical errors in its my ticket. I again left in a hurry another look at our evolving” posters. In his letter, he cited two Stanley C. Rakestraw and another angel spotted them. Director was a good headline? Maybe you errors in “....your ‘Be fair, pay the She kept them in her purse until Cook County should take another look at your fair’ poster” (sic). she spotted me on the platform deciding. Clearly, Jason’s letter used several days later. William A. Widmer III Rich the improper form of “fare” in I hope this note makes it to the Director the second “fair” of his diatribe. Suburban Cook County next issue of OTBL and brings We didn’t give Rich a prize However, it is not clear whether a smile to both of my special Chief Executive Officer for being the only rider/reader to his letter was incorrect or whether Valentines! notice that strange headline and OTBL misspelled what he wrote Alex Clifford Tom

WWW.METRARAIL.COM MARCH 2012 3 Metra history, composition is complicated (Continued from Page 1) Western was merged with Union carriers use their employees and authority over fares, service and kee lines. It took over operations Pacific in 1995, and UP still own or control the rights-of-way staffing levels. on the Norfolk Southern line in owns and operates the three UP and most of the other facilities Below is some brief informa- 1993 and renamed it the South- lines. Burlington Northern, now required for operations. Metra tion about each Metra line. We’ll West Service. known as the BNSF Railway, owns the and in give more detailed histories in Metra still has purchase- continues to own and operate conjunction with local munici- future issues. of-service agreement with two that line. palities is responsible for most You can now follow me on railroads. The Chicago & North Under those contracts, the stations. Metra retains overall Twitter @MetraCEO Metra owns tracks and operates trains Heritage Corridor: The line originated with the Chicago and , then was part of the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio, which Metra Electric: The Illinois Central Railroad started offering commuter service to Hyde Park in 1856. It operated on trestles in merged with Illinois Central. Lemont (1853) and Lockport (1863) Lake Michigan just offshore until after the 1871 Chicago Fire, when are the oldest depots in the Metra system and were there when debris was dumped in the lake and the landfill surrounded the tracks President Lincoln’s funeral train passed through. For many years and created . The branch lines were added in 1883 (South there was only one weekday round trip on the line. The RTA added Chicago) and 1892 (Blue Island) and the commuter service was a second trip in each direction in 1979. When the Illinois Central extended south, eventually to what is now University Park in 1977. Gulf sold the Metra Electric line to Metra in 1987, it also handed The line was grade-separated starting in 1892 and then electrified over commuter operations on the Chicago-Joliet route, although it by 1926. Metra bought the line for $26 million and started operat- still owned the tracks. Metra renamed the line the Heritage Corridor. ing its service in 1987. It is Metra’s only electric line. Metra Electric Metra still operates the service (it added a third round-trip in 1999 timetables are “Panama Orange” in honor of the IC’s old Panama but the tracks are now owned by CN and trains are dispatched from Limited trains. Homewood. Metra controls none of the five intersections with freight railroads on this line. Heritage schedules are “Alton Maroon” for a Rock Island: Train service to Joliet was begun by the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad in 1852. The branch was built in the 1870s color used by the Alton Railroad. and extended north in the 1880s. The Rock operated service on the : The North Central Service line, the first line until it went bankrupt. The RTA bought it in 1982. For a short new commuter rail line in Chicago in 70 years, began operating in time, service on the line was run by Chicago & North Western but 1996 and was upgraded in 2006. Metra operates the line on tracks eventually the RTA and then Metra started running it. Rock Island originally built by the first Central in 1886. The tracks are timetables are “Rocket Red” for the Rock Island’s Rocket trains. now owned by CN, and trains are dispatched from Homewood. Milwaukee lines: The Milwaukee West and Milwaukee North Freight railroad owns tracks and operates lines, which date from the 1870s, are Chicago area remnants of the once-mighty , which had a long and storied history Union Pacific lines: What is now the UP West line started as that ended in bankruptcy in 1980. At that point, the RTA started the Galena & Chicago Union in 1848, the first railroad in Chicago. operating service on the routes. Metra took over and ended up buy- The two other UP lines had different origins in the 1850s. Chicago ing the lines in 1987. One historical oddity is that while Metra owns & North Western owned all three for most of their existence. These and operates the Milwaukee lines, dispatching duties are performed lines passed to UP ownership when the C&NW merged with UP in by Canadian Pacific in . That was the arrangement in 1995. UP now operates and dispatches trains from Omaha, Ne- place with CP’s predecessor at the time. Milwaukee West timetables braska. The trains run on the left-hand side, thought to be a func- are “Arrow Yellow” for the Milwaukee Road’s Arrow train, while tion of how the first track and depots were situated when a second Milwaukee North timetables are “ Orange” for the famed track was added. The UP West line was extended to Elburn in 2006. Hiawatha trains. Metra timetables for the UP North are “Flambeau Green”; green for the C&NW’s historical green and yellow locomotives and Flambeau Freight railroad owns tracks, Metra operates for one of its passenger trains. UP Northwest timetables use “Viking SouthWest Service: Parts of this line originated with the Wa- Yellow,” again for the C&NW’s colors and one of its trains. UP West bash Railway, which built a link to Chicago in 1880. That section, timetables are “ Rose,” named for a girl from who south of 74th, eventually ended up belonging to Norfolk Southern. saved a train from disaster in 1881. Another part, from 21st to 74th, belonged to the Chicago & Western BNSF Line: The first rail service from Aurora to Chicago in Indiana Railroad (which was owned by Wabash and other railroads) 1850 chugged north from Aurora to the G&CU tracks (now the UP and parts are now owned by Metra or NS. Metra controls none of West) and then east to Chicago. When that line got too congested, the six intersections with freight railroads on this line. Wabash and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy built their own direct line, which the NS operated commuter trains on the route to Orland Park. Metra opened with passenger service in 1864. Over the years, the name of assumed operations in 1993, renaming it the SouthWest Service. the owner changed to Burlington Northern to Burlington Northern Commuter service was extended to Manhattan in 2006. Metra leases Santa Fe to BNSF. This line was the first to use bi-level coaches, the route from NS, and trains are dispatched from Dearborn, Mich. built by Budd in 1950. BNSF dispatches trains from Ft. Worth, Timetables are “Banner Blue” to commemorate the Wabash Rail- Texas. BNSF timetables are “Kelly Green” or “Cascade Green” for road’s Banner Blue trains. the color used on BNSF freight locomotives.

E-MAIL US AT [email protected] 4 ON THE BI-LEVEL MARCH 2012 Ticket machines offer new benefit Metra Acting Chairman fare tickets cannot be purchased Larry Huggins and CEO Alex from the machines because rid- Clifford earlier this month un- ers are required to show a permit veiled a major new convenience or meet other conditions to be for Metra customers: credit card eligible. The machines also will ticket vending machines at three sell weekend tickets on week- downtown terminals. ends. “We are happy to give our The machines are the same riders yet another option for as the 31 credit card vending buying tickets,” Clifford said. machines already installed at “We are committed to improving the busiest stations on the Metra customer service throughout our Electric Line, including at that system. Our riders will find these line’s two downtown stations, machines to be quick and easy Millennium and Van Buren. The to use.” cost for 43 machines, plus some Huggins and Clifford ap- related expenses, was about $2 peared at a press conference million. The machines for the at Union Station, where three multiple diesel lines required machines were installed near more complex software than that the Metra ticket office. At the used on the single Metra Electric Ogilvie Transportation Center, Rider Caroline Manley of Chicago was the first person to use Line and also required more two were installed at the track Metra’s new ticket vending machines at Union Station. extensive testing. About 15,000 level near the south end of the transactions were performed dur- platforms and one was installed chines easy to use. Basically, you American Express. ing testing. on the ground-floor Suburban tell the machines what kind of A phone is located near each Two other locations will get Concourse. Two machines were ticket you want to buy, what line machine to connect riders to a machines this spring: McCor- installed at LaSalle St. Station. you want to use and what station customer service representative if mick Place, which is served by The machines are supple- you want to travel to, and it will they have problems or questions. the Metra Electric Line, and menting ticket agents at each tell you the fare and ask for your The machines can be used Route 59 on the BNSF Line, the station. credit card. The machines accept to buy full fare one-way, 10-ride busiest station outside of down- Customers will find the ma- Visa, MasterCard, Discover and and monthly tickets. Reduced town. Metra sees 1.6% increase in ridership We are happy to report that passenger trips in 1983, when in 2011. Ridership on the BNSF the number of UP North riders. Metra served 82.7 million rid- Metra was formed, the number rose 1.7 percent in 2011 com- Meanwhile, the UP West ers in 2011, an increase of 1.6 of commuter rail riders in the pared to 2010. Line increased 2.2 percent to 7.9 percent over 2010 and the third- region has jumped 46 percent, The UP Northwest Line million. highest total in Metra’s history. averaging 1.6 percent growth per jumped 7.5 percent over 2010, For the remaining lines, the While we always like to see year. The only years in which providing 11.1 million rides, NCS went up 6.3 percent, to 1.7 that ridership number going up, Metra saw higher ridership were while the UP North Line fell million rides; the Milwaukee this year’s increase is particularly 2007, when Metra provided 83.3 6.7 percent to 9.4 million rides. West Line increased 5 percent to gratifying. Mass transit fund- million passenger trips, and its However, Metra believes those 7.1 million rides; the SouthWest ing is a hot topic in Washington record year of 2008, when it changes have less to do with Service increased 4.4 percent these days, and we have been try- provided 86.8 million trips. ridership changes and more to do to 2.6 million; the Milwaukee ing in a variety of ways to shine Some contributors to ris- a new revenue accounting system North Line increased 1.9 percent the spotlight on the important ing ridership included relatively that we implemented last year. to 7 million; the Heritage Cor- and growing role Metra plays stable regional employment and That system more accurately ridor increased 1.6 percent to in keeping the Chicago region record high gas prices. Those allocates ticket sales to indi- 0.7 million; and the Rock Island moving. trends should continue this year. vidual lines, including among the Line increased 0.5 percent to 8.6 Those 82.7 million rides il- The busiest route continues to three UP lines, and we believe million. The Metra Electric Line lustrate that fact far better than be the BNSF Railway, between the old system underestimated had a small drop but essentially anything else we could say or do. Aurora and Chicago Union Sta- the actual number of UP North- held steady at slightly more than Since dipping to 56.5 million tion, which saw 16.6 million trips west riders while overestimating 10 million.

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