Special Saturday Service on the Metra Heritage Corridor | Rails, Trails & Ales | Metra Bicycle Car

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ส.ค. 2022
  • The Metra Heritage Corridor has the least frequent service of all 11 Metra lines: it only runs 3 round trips on weekdays, and no service on weekend or holidays. Except...
    In the summer of 2022, Metra has its "Rails, Trails, & Ales" program. For 10 consecutive Saturdays, they are running 3 extra round trips on the Heritage Corridor. These trains come equipped with the Metra bike cars, which are the easiest way to bring your bike along for the journey. If you want to ride the Heritage Corridor, but you normally can't, this may be an exciting opportunity for you! But hurry up, the last train runs on September 3rd!
    Also, our train was hauled by Metra 104, wearing its brand-new "City of Chicago" livery!
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ความคิดเห็น • 65

  • @kevanhubbard9673
    @kevanhubbard9673 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    That red Metra loco looks nice.

    • @michaelglass4701
      @michaelglass4701 ปีที่แล้ว

      I'm a Model Railroader & i have a HO Scale Metra "RI" Heritage Locomotive.

  • @dennisforner6090
    @dennisforner6090 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Congrats to Metra for coming up with the Rail, tails & ales concept. What a great way to expand ridership even if it is for a short timeframe. I especially liked the livery of the special bike carriages (looks so much better than just stainless steel in my opinion) and making so much space available on a train for bikes is a great idea. I hope it becomes popular. Thank you Thom for sharing this video. As always much appreciated.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I like the new livery a lot better too! I think design is such an important factor in attracting customers. Americans spend so much time designing their cars, it saddens me that trains have been reduced to boring, not-aerodynamic stainless stee boxes.

  • @DavidSSabb
    @DavidSSabb ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I wish the HC could have better service because it runs right by the most extensive area of interconnected forest preserves in Cook County, and as an insult to injury the no weekend service Southwest Service runs on the eastern edge of this same area.
    You could walk or bike from Willow Springs on the HC to Palos Park on the SWS almost entirely on trails through the forests, which would make a fantastic day trip if there were actually trains to take you there and back.

  • @carguy4243
    @carguy4243 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I like sitting up in the balcony of the gallery cars. You get more of a bird's-eye view I think.

  • @JustinSchroeder29
    @JustinSchroeder29 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hope they do it again this year... I'd definitely be interested in making the trip!

  • @wcombs1983
    @wcombs1983 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Bike car?! COOL!

  • @georgekarnezis4311
    @georgekarnezis4311 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The heritage corridors could strengthen the regional rail nature of burbs. My cousin lives in lemont and my parents live in mokena being able to make transfers at Joliet would be awesome. But the commuting nature of the heritage corridors means that driving is the best option between suburbs.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I think the Chicago suburbs would be well suited for regional rail. With my current job I would certainly benefit from it.

    • @georgekarnezis4311
      @georgekarnezis4311 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Thom-TRA I hear somewhere that most jobs are now in the suburbs. A bloom burg article from twenty 19 said that jobs in the suburbs were growing. But who know how the world has changes since then.

  • @joemeyers3127
    @joemeyers3127 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Great video. Thanks for taking me back to my Chicago roots!

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad you enjoyed!

  • @deaventuraconkikomas4281
    @deaventuraconkikomas4281 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Cool... For next visit to Chicago.... Thanks for sharing it.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      You’re welcome! You’ll have to take it on a weekday now, since the summer is over

  • @White_sox_fan
    @White_sox_fan ปีที่แล้ว +1

    12:35 the slammers home

  • @ck4426
    @ck4426 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Another interesting and informative vlog, thank you so much!!!

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You’re welcome! This one was a lot of fun to film

  • @natertaterz335
    @natertaterz335 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Also love the video like always!

  • @leereeder2293
    @leereeder2293 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thom I rode every day on most of the Metra trains as I rode the Elburn line the most. The Elburn line used to end in Geneva before it was extended

  • @midmichiganemdrailfan.4187
    @midmichiganemdrailfan.4187 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Cool video

  • @transittown7891
    @transittown7891 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice commentary trip bro 😎 😊👍 keep it up. Greetings from Canada

  • @CameronLandels
    @CameronLandels 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you for the video Thom! Really enjoyed it. I've heard of the rail and ale trail. It's pretty good to see trains running on a Saturday during the summer. It's a good initiative to get people to explore the route with their bikes. Here's hoping Metra runs more weekday trains in the future 🙂

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I do hope Metra expands their service. I was talking with my dad the other day how it’s shameful the Metra line to O’Hare only runs 6x a day. That conversation actually inspired me to go out and film a new video!

    • @CameronLandels
      @CameronLandels ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Thom-TRA Hi Thom. It is pretty poor that the NCS and the Heritage Corridor only run a few times a day. I know you can connect with the O'Hare People Mover at the transfer. I suppose more people use the more frequent Chicago L Blue Line to get to the airport. Glad it gave you some inspiration for a new video 🙂

  • @mrAhollandjr
    @mrAhollandjr ปีที่แล้ว

    This line was operated by the Illinois Central.. your explanation explains why the railroad was called Illinois Central Gulf.

  • @ChicagoRailfan773
    @ChicagoRailfan773 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I wish they had more train times for HC.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Me too. 3x per day is crazy.

    • @ChicagoRailfan773
      @ChicagoRailfan773 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@Thom-TRA I'm by summit and have to go to CUS or RI to go to Joliet.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@ChicagoRailfan773 does Amtrak not do any tickets for that segment?

    • @ChicagoRailfan773
      @ChicagoRailfan773 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @Thom-TRA I seen that they do I never tried it. I get on metra for free. It's not a big station I was wondering how they do it.

  • @tsauce3928
    @tsauce3928 ปีที่แล้ว

    104 is a Heritage unit I think and I’m pretty sure it’s rare to find all Heritage units so yeah

  • @natertaterz335
    @natertaterz335 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Did anyone hear about the truck that was hit by metra in lemont yesterday?

  • @johnkolassa1645
    @johnkolassa1645 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Yet another interesting video. Thanks for the tip about unexpected Heritage Corridor weekend service. Is any use made of the upper level in these cars?

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Just one half of the car. Yes, you can sit in the upper half, but we tried it for 5 minutes, and between slamming doors and the constant shaking we decided to sit on the other side of the car, with regular seats. If someone would have tried to steal our bikes, they would have had to cut through our kryptonite locks on camera…

    • @johnkolassa1645
      @johnkolassa1645 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Thom-TRA Thanks.

  • @AskUrMom365
    @AskUrMom365 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I think the Bnsf is crowded just because people near the HC line are just scared to miss a train, so they drive to Bnsf

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      That’s an interesting theory

  • @tylerkochman1007
    @tylerkochman1007 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Question: could you sit on the upper level of the bicycle half of the car, or is that not permitted??

    • @tylerkochman1007
      @tylerkochman1007 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Just noticed you answered when someone else asked

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You can sit there! It’s a little bumpy

  • @thickernell
    @thickernell 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I don't know if you meant to carry your bikes down "The Untouchables" stairs at Union Station or not, but there is a somewhat "new" elevator that opens onto the street about 20 feet north of the cab line outside of the old station house. It comes out on the lower concourse level across from the Metropolitan Club's main entrance, stuck back in a little cubby hallway. I use it all the time when returning via Amtrak to go directly to the cab line and designated ride share pickup area, so I don't have to cross Canal Street.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We were able to take it in the afternoon, but it was closed for maintenance in the morning!

    • @thickernell
      @thickernell 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Thom-TRA Man, that elevator is down FAR too often for only being open a few years.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@thickernell those poor elevators are definitely over represented in Chicago’s vandalism statistics…

  • @briansivley2001
    @briansivley2001 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Why would Amtrak want to move trains to The Rock Island District Tracks when it's more efficient to use the current tracks? I know that The Rock Island Tracks bypass the route that the east bound long distance trains go on and I know about the plan to build a connection to it but I would think it would still add more time than how it is now.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The advantage of the Rock Island is that it is dispatched by Metra, who is more likely to give priority to passenger service. That, and only one level crossing with a different railroad, means the chance for delays is much smaller. I think Amtrak will choose reliability over speed, and I don’t blame them.
      Also, the RI serves a number of larger cities, such as Tinley Park, which would be an added advantage.

    • @briansivley2001
      @briansivley2001 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Thom-TRA but they will have the same problem in getting into Union Station like they do with The City of New Orleans and Illini/Saluki Services they have to go through China Town and go onto the same tracks that they are using now to get into Union Station. To me while they would go into bigger cities/suburbs if they used The Rock Island District but until they build the connection to the CSX Tracks they might as well use the current routing and once they finish the construction of the connection they can do it.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@briansivley2001 but that is the point, Amtrak is building that connection. I think a lot of lines will be rerouted once that is finished.

    • @briansivley2001
      @briansivley2001 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Thom-TRA I thought they were still in the planning stages and were trying to get the funds for it?

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@briansivley2001 I’m not sure, actually, I’ll have to check. I do hope the plans come to fruition soon.

  • @michaellewter8671
    @michaellewter8671 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The old GMO line

  • @Jeragon186
    @Jeragon186 ปีที่แล้ว

    Do we know why Meta ran this train with 2 locomotives for only 5 cars?

  • @chadreno4108
    @chadreno4108 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Can you use the upper level seating in the bike car?

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You can. However, we tried and it was very loud and bumpy, so we opted for the more comfortable seating on the other side of the car.

  • @MetraUPNWproductions7202
    @MetraUPNWproductions7202 ปีที่แล้ว

    NCS is getting full service back in dec 2022

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  ปีที่แล้ว

      Cool! How many extra runs are planned?

  • @veronicanorman6073
    @veronicanorman6073 ปีที่แล้ว

    Can you do the BNSF railway

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes, I took it this summer and I’m planning to upload the video in September!

  • @danielueblacker9118
    @danielueblacker9118 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thom I can not believe you rented a car just to be alone with your wonderful wife.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Haha! You know I would if I could. Truth is we were just lucky to have an empty car.
      Coincidentally, It actually is our wedding anniversary today! That’s why I wanted to upload a recent video of a fun trip we did together