Crowded trains costing Metra

As the Metra board debates raising fares or cutting services, perhaps they should try riding their own trains this weekend so they can really understand the issues. Metra’s train service, typically every two hours on weekends, leads to overcrowded trains and missed revenue.

I ride the rail primarily on weekends to get to fun events with family and friends in the city. Of the last five trips, my 10-ride pass was punched on average of every other trip. This is because the trains are so packed on weekends that people are standing, shoulder-to-shoulder in the aisles, the vestibules and up top. Yes, standing room only on the upper level!

Not only is this not a great customer experience, but you can imagine how difficult it is to move through the train on days like this, much less collect fares. Metra board should work to add trains (hourly on weekends and busy holidays), or add cars to existing trains, to enable people to simply sit down for the trip. Think of the revenue they could generate if conductors could walk through their own trains and actually collect a fare.

Metra, get out of the board room and try hosting a budget meeting on the 9:37 a.m. out of Mount Prospect, or the 8:30 p.m. out of Ogilvie on a Saturday, before deciding to cut services or raise fares.

Heather Johnson

Mount Prospect