Metra Proposes Slight Changes to Departure and Travel Times on the West and North Lines

Riders of the Union Pacific West and North lines may need to get to the station a few minutes earlier if proposed schedule changes are implemented by Metra.

Riders are being asked to comment about the changes, which are being proposed to more "accurately reflect operating conditions," according to an announcement by Metra.

Certain trains on the North and West lines may see departure times of one to five minutes earlier. The adjustments are proposed to make the schedules more accurate and to "minimize conflicts with other trains."

The schedule of some weekend trains also are being adjusted, and all weekend trains on both the North and West lines are being re-numbered to make them consistent and differentiate them from weekday trains, Metra said. The biggest changes would be on the UP North line's 367 and 334 trains, which would depart 25 and 15 minutes earlier, respectively, on weekends.

The proposed schedule for the West Line, which goes from the Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago to Elburn, can be found here.

Comments about the schedule can be made online. Just click on "Contact Us" on the home page. Riders also can send an email to onthebilevel@metrarr.com, or call (312) 322-6777 and press 7 to talk to a Metra representative.

Comments will be accepted until Dec. 16, after which a final decision will be made.

This fall, Metra made similar adjustments to the Milwaukee North, Milwaukee West, Southwest Service and Heritage Corridor schedules, according to Metra.