Metra assumed operating responsibility of Union Pacific’s three Chicago-area commuter lines on May 16, following a years-long effort to transfer the operation from the Class I railroad to the public agency. The transition came with little fanfare and was announced on a blog post on Monday morning. 

“Didn’t notice the switch? Good, that’s what we intended,” wrote Metra officials. “When Union Pacific announced several years back that it wanted to stop operating passenger trains on its North, Northwest and West lines, both UP and Metra pushed for a transition that would not be noticeable to riders. So, your favorite conductor is still aboard – the only difference is, he or she is employed by Metra instead of the freight railroad.” 

UP has operated the lines to Waukegan, Harvard/McHenry, and Elburn since 1995, when it assumed control of the Chicago & North Western. Until last week, the trains utilized Metra equipment but were staffed with UP employees. Since 2019, the freight railroad has been trying to get out of its obligation to provide passenger service, but the two sides have not been able to come to an agreement on how much Metra would pay to use UP’s tracks (UP will still own the tracks and dispatch trains). Last year, UP mechanical and customer service employees were hired by Metra. Last week, they were joined by operating employees (conductors, engineers etc.). While that transition has occurred, the freight and passenger railroad have still not come to terms on what Metra will pay to use UP’s tracks. That dispute is now going before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, which will hopefully resolve it before the current contract expires this summer. 

Like passengers, railfans will probably not notice a big difference trackside now that Metra is operating the three ex-C&NW lines. This leaves the BNSF Line (the former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy “Racetrack” to Aurora), as the only freight-operated commuter line in the Chicago area. -Justin Franz