Two of Metra's busiest lines servicing many of Chicago's western and northwestern suburbs will see adjustments to their schedules following Memorial Day weekend.
Metra's Union Pacific West and Union Pacific Northwest lines will receive updated schedules that the transit agency says will better reflect operating conditions and "service patterns most beneficial to riders."
Service changes to the Union Pacific Northwest and Union Pacific West lines were last made on April 3 and Dec. 5 of 2022 respectively, when service was expanded to include more trips than previously accommodated.
The upcoming changes will help mitigate issues the revised schedules have presented with on-time performance, with some platform changes being made to the two lines as well, according to Metra officials.
The changes for both the Union Pacific Northwest and Union Pacific West lines will take effect on Tuesday.
The Union Pacific Northwest line runs from the Ogilvie Transportation Center to Harvard, with the line containing a total of 23 stops throughout Cook and McHenry counties.
The line also notably serves Crystal Lake, Fox River Grove, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect and Park Ridge.
Local
The Union Pacific West line contains 19 stations, running from the Ogilvie Transportation Center to Elburn, with notable stops in Geneva, Wheaton, Elmhurst and Oak Park.
The following schedule, track and platform changes will take effect on May 30 for the Union Pacific Northwest line:
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Schedule Changes
- Inbound Trains 618, 632, 658, 662 will now all depart Des Plaines 5 to 6 mins later (on the :07s)
- Train 651 will now depart Chicago at 5:07 p.m. (2 minutes later than the current schedule)
- Train 653 will now depart Chicago at 5:05 p.m. (2 minutes earlier than the current schedule)
- Train 647 will now arrive at Harvard 6 minutes later at 6:23 p.m.
- Train 706 will now always stop at Irving Park on weekends, not just during Cubs home games
Track/Platform Changes
- Trains 620, 622, 624, 634, 636 will no longer use the center track platform from Palatine to Cumberland
- Trains 639, 651 will now use the center track platforms for boarding from Jefferson Park through Des Plaines
- Train 643 and 657 will no longer use the center track platform for boarding at Clybourn and Des Plaines
Similarly, the following schedule, track and platform changes will take effect on May 30 for the Union Pacific West line:
- Train 13 has added stops at Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, and West Chicago
- Train 15 will now terminate its run at La Fox
- Trains 43 and 47 have added stops at Villa Park and West Chicago
- Train 49 will now arrive in Elburn 5 minutes later at 6:30 p.m.
- All trains departing or arriving, Chicago at 7:40 p.m. or later will now stop at both Melrose Park and Maywood.
More information on Metra lines and schedules can be found on their website.
