Metra To Resume Alternate Weekday Schedule On Monday
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Metra will go back to an alternate weekday schedule on Monday, after more than a week of either suspending service altogether or reducing it amid civil unrest in the Chicago area.
The move means limited weekday service will return on the SouthWest Service, Heritage Corridor, and North Central Service lines.
Metra service has been operating on a modified Sunday schedule since Wednesday "for the safety of passengers, employees, and the system." The three aforementioned lines do not run on Sundays and thus did not run at all last week.
On Monday and Tuesday of last week, Metra trains did not run at all.
Effective this coming Monday, Metra will go back to the schedules that were in place before the unrest.
Sunday schedules will be in use on weekend days again, except on the Metra Electric Line, which will use its typical Saturday and Sunday schedules. Saturday service will still be suspended on the SouthWest Service Line.
Metra will still be taking precautions for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Metra said it will provide an opportunity for social distancing on trains as long as possible – with an aim and keeping trains no more than half full. The plan is to seat one passenger per two-seater on the lower level of each double-decker train, and one passenger for every other seat on the upper level.
There will be exceptions for families traveling together.
Metra will also continue the alternate weekday schedules that have been in place as June begins, but will add cars to make sure there is room for passengers to spread out.
If Metra suspects a train will become crowded, it will try to put an unscheduled train into service behind it.
On weekends, Metra will still operate Sunday schedules on both Saturdays and Sundays, and there will be no Saturday trains on the SouthWest Service line.
Metra will resume accepting cash fares at ticket windows on Monday, June 1, but it still encourages passengers to buy tickets with the Ventra app so as to limit interactions between crews and passengers.
The $10 All-Day Pass will give passengers a "Touch Less, Pay Less" option to ride trains both safely and affordably. Buying a ticket from a conductor on a train will cost an additional $5, and starting immediately, Metra will no longer accept checks on trains.
Doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and other medical personnel will also ride free on Metra at least through June.
Metra has been deep-cleaning its more than 1,000 rail cars over the last few months, and has been examining best practices and new cleaning methods.
Metra continues to clean and disinfect all high-touch areas as frequently as possible at least once a day – including seats, seat handles, armrests, door handles, handrails, vestibule posts, and handholds. Toilets and toilet areas get the same treatment.
Metra also continues to clean and disinfect stations multiple times a week, with special attention for high-touch areas.
More information is available at the Metra website.
