Metra Seeks Input on Proposed Schedule Changes
Minor changes have been suggested for the Heritage Corridor line, which has six daily trains in Lemont.
Metra is asking riders for feedback on minor schedule changes being proposed for four of its lines, including the Heritage Corridor line that stops in Lemont.
According to Metra, the schedule changes have been proposed for the Milwaukee North, Milwaukee West, SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor lines in order to more accurately reflect actual operating conditions.
Only certain trains would see changes. In most cases, the train's departure times would be adjusted from certain stops or its running times between stations by just one to four minutes.
On the Heritage Corridor line—which stops in Joliet, Lockport, Lemont, Willow Springs, Summit and Chicago—the proposed changes are to inbound train 918 and outbound trains 917, 919 and 921. In all cases, train times would only be adjusted two to three minutes.
Comments about the changes can be made online at www.metrarail.com, or by sending an email to onthebilevel@metrarr.com. Riders can also call Metra's Customer Service line from on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m
Metra will accept feedback through Sept. 23 before making a final decision.
John Quinn
10:19 am on Thursday, September 8, 2011
Lemont needs a mid morning train that goes to Chicago & a mid afternoon train that comes back. Some weekend service would be great too. This is what will make the downtown a desireable place to live and spend money.
Spencer D. Smith
11:16 am on Thursday, September 8, 2011
These minute changes are inconsequential to me. What would make a difference for me though are mid afternoon/morning trains. Currently, if i have a meeting in the morning in the City and want to take the train, I am stuck there until late afternoon.
In addition, weekend service would be great. Driving to Joliet (ugh) to pick up the Rock Island for a weekend jaunt really puts a damper on things.
Also, someone should tell the Lemont Metra to do one of two things. Turn off or reboot their wireless router. That wifi signal hasn't worked, ever.
Marcus Hebda
2:40 pm on Thursday, September 8, 2011
The Metra from Lemont is useless unless you work banker's hours. It is a shame.
Lee Ristow
11:15 pm on Thursday, September 8, 2011
I'm not quite sure what "banker's hours" are these days, but my husband has been riding the Heritage Corridor train for over 30 years and it has "mostly" served him pretty well. He rode in the days before Metra cars when there was only ONE train in and ONE train out. I agree that at least one or two additional trains would be nice. Mid morning, mid-afternoon at later at night would really improve access to downtown. Weekends would be awesome. But I don't think the ridership is sufficient to support any of that.
Deb Mussallem
4:22 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
We need another train leaving Union Station around 2:30. It's first stop will be Lemont. I live in Lemont and I take the Burlington in Downers Grove just so I can get home to my kids in mid afternoon. I see alot of people from Lemont in Downers Grove because of the nice flexible & plenty train schedule that the Heritage Corridor does not offer. Its ashame.
Spencer D. Smith
4:32 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
Deb, there's no way Metra would ever run an express route on our line. I'd be happy with a mid-afternoon train at all. The one nice thing about the Heritage Corridor line is that it is not like the Rock Island with a stop every half mile. There's just no need for an express.