By Railfan & Railroad Staff

CHICAGO — This week, Metra launched a new website that allows passengers — and railfans — to see exactly where trains are and when they will reach the next station. 

MetraTracker.com was launched on Tuesday and now lets users check train departures from specific stations and look at trains on a real-time map to see where exactly they are. The new $26.7 million train tracking system from Clever Devices of Woodbury, N.Y., required the installation of new GPS tracking devices and other network equipment on more than 1,000 railcars and in 238 stations. The new train tracking equipment is currently being installed on Union Pacific, Southwest Service and BNSF trains and tracking on those lines will increase as the rollout is completed this year.

“This new train tracking system is a major upgrade and will be a dramatic improvement in our communications to My Metra customers,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “It enables us to do a better job of tracking trains and conveying timely, accurate information, and also includes a variety of interactive new features.”