No bottom line yet on replacing Metra's flippable seats
To flip or not to flip? That's a question Metra officials are considering before ordering new seats for train cars.
There's no bottom line yet, officials said at a Friday meeting.
Instead, Metra riders will be able to make up their own minds in the coming months, when the agency will locate test seats and new layouts in cars on lines including the BNSF, Union Pacific and Milwaukee District.
One concept passengers will be able to test involves fixed seats in a car with half facing forward and the other half facing backward. Four four-seat configurations, popular with families and people traveling in groups, will also be located in the cars.
The industry trend is moving away from the familiar seats that can be shifted to face frontward or backward.
Only one manufacturer makes movable seats currently.
Asked if riders might object to riding backward when they've always had the option to reverse the seat, Metra officials said a survey of 1,014 passengers produced mixed reactions.
When questioned on the "inability to flip" issue, 64.3 percent of riders had no issue or no comment.
On the flip side, 35.7 percent liked the status quo and thought riding backward would be a flop.
Whatever type of seat is picked, officials said the replacements will be higher-backed and more comfortable and should include cup holders.
"The hope to meet everyone's need is have four-seaters that some of the people were asking for along with the new style - a more ergonomic seat," CEO Don Orseno said.
"Most of the other railroads have gone to stationary-style seats ... they're more comfortable, they're higher," Orseno said. "They don't have the flipping mechanism. But we understand our customers have grown accustomed to this, and when you like something, you like it."
Don't expect to see Metra's fleet of cars made over all at once.
The changes will happen incrementally. The agency rehabs about 25 cars a year. It's also starting an ambitious capital program aimed at buying 367 new train cars.