Metra BNSF schedule changes coming March 28
Written by David C. Lester, Editor-in-Chief
Metra BNSF Line schedule changes are coming at the end of March.
Metra
Metra's BNSF line will see schedule changes and service increase to nearly pre-pandemic levels.
Beginning Monday, March 28, Metra will be implementing significant changes to the BNSF Line schedule, adding trains to reduce crowding and restore service to near pre-pandemic levels.
Under the new BNSF Line schedule, weekday service will increase from 86 to 91 trains. Four new trains will be added to the schedule and three trains that were removed from the schedule in November 2021 will be restored. Two late morning rush hour trains that provided all stop service between Chicago and Brookfield will no longer operate. To accommodate the additional trains, there will be multiple adjustments to departure times and stopping patterns across the BNSF Line’s weekday schedule. Adjustments to intermediate departure times have also been made to better represent actual operating conditions. There are no changes to weekend service.
Current ridership on the BNSF Line is averaging about 19,000 passenger trips each weekday, about 30% of pre-COVID ridership. The schedule changes are being made in response to rider requests as well as continued monitoring of ridership patterns. Metra will continue to closely monitor ridership and will work with BNSF Railway to make additional schedule adjustments where appropriate.
The new schedule can be viewed here. All customers are encouraged to review the changes and the new schedule to determine if their trains are affected.
