Metra Announces Revision of BNSF Train Schedule

Submitted by Metra.

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CHICAGO, IL – Metra today announced a revision of the BNSF Line schedule that includes numerous minor adjustments to departure times to better reflect actual operating conditions and minimize customer wait times. The new schedule, which can be viewed at metrarail.com, will begin on Sunday, Oct. 9.

The changes stem from an analysis of months of operating data that was commissioned by BNSF Railway. The timetables for about two-thirds of BNSF trains have been adjusted for some or all stops along the route, mostly by adding 1 or 2 minutes per stop, but in rare cases adding 4 to 7 minutes. The new schedule does not change the arrival and departure times of trains at Union Station; they will continue to arrive and depart there at the same times as the current schedule.

“We understand that for our customers, the timely arrival of our trains at their departing station can be nearly as important as the timely arrival at the final destination,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “That’s why we periodically review our schedules and adjust our timetables to make them as realistic – and therefore as reliable – as possible.”

Metra’s schedules are designed to correspond to typical conditions and circumstances along the route. That means trains can frequently run slightly behind schedule, particularly at intermediate stops, because of a variety of unpredictable and uncontrollable factors, such as the need to deploy a wheelchair lift, a medical emergency or weather conditions that slow train loading.

The new schedule used months of recent GPS and signal data to determine the most realistic, typical schedule. Trains now should more reliably depart as scheduled from their intermediate stops, although unpredictable factors still may result in some slight delays.

BNSF Line customers are urged to review the new schedule carefully to see if there are changes to their trains.
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