The Past, Present, and Future of Metra (Railroad Review)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ค. 2024
- Hi. I'm Sam, a railfan based out of Eastern Massachusetts. I film trains from all around the world and make narrated videos explaining how the railroad works. Thanks for watching and I'll see you out on the mainline!
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0:00 - Intro
0:45 - Past
2:59 - Present
11:18 - Trackside
16:01 - The Future
21:37 - Conclusion
23:22 - Railroad Review Explained
24:04 - Outro
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I really do like Metra. Yes, their equipment is antiquated. Their locos are old, noisy, smokey, and slow, but honestly, that's what I think is so cool about them. Metra has grit! I really do hope the Chicago railfans appreciate being able to see gyra equipped F40s hauling strings of stainless Gallery cars on a daily basis. No other place in the country can offer this. I know everybody wants modern, clean, quiet trains and all that, but Metra has a certain charm to it that no other commuter railroad has.
F40s and Gallery Cars will be replaced.
@@marioscardina860 Uh yes they indeed will but only for most of the tier 0 F40s if the new SD70MACHs prove themselves in service. What you said is literally what this video explains, so we know this lol.
SD70MACHs and SD70ACEs are the type of freight locomotives that metra will order.
caltrain does too but thats only for a short while and via rail does a bit too but they are also modernizing
I find it absolutely hilarious that you’ve somehow gotten ahold of an image of the Metra charger I pitched a friend to do purely as a joke for a Roblox project we’re doing together.
🙈🙉
Another REALLY important improvement with the new bi-level cars is being ADA compliant! It's only been 30+ years...
The majority have wheelchair lifts on them, and ada reserve seating. A person in a wheelchair just can't sit on the upper level. But they are very much ada compliant, and I have seen numerous wheelchair users on them.
@@austinlawler3739 That makes sense. I guess I mean these cars improve accessibility. Being able to roll on and off at stations with elevated platforms is easier, faster, and allows greater autonomy than needing to use a lift, and where a lift is still necessary it won’t be blocking the only door.
Yes diesel cars utilize wheelchair ramps that lower to the ground and lift the person up. Electric line cars use the elevated platform method so you only have to lay a flat ramp down to cover the gap between car and platform. All electric cars are equipped with these wheelchair plates.
At 4:10 I believe Denver RTD regional rail is electrified, which would be the westermost electric passenger line (until Caltrain enters service)
California might be next.
Uninteresting rolling stock? We got historic rail manufacturer icons on the rails son and man does the Crews do a great job keeping them running smooth!
Historic? That's not how passenger railroads should be ran. For the average passenger it's a terrible experience. I love trains but Metra is heavily underfunded and the operations are not good for todays environment. Metra has to shift away from 9-5 commuters and focus on all day service.
Metra should really electrify the Union Pacific North Line, especially with how little freight traffic there is.
I know, because I've seen trains run on the UP North Line near Ft. Sheridan, and not a single one was a freight train. But recently, I heard there were some talk amongst the community wanting to Electrify Metra's Heritage Corridor through overhead wire.
Wasn't the North Shore electric before?
@@billbishopboyiscool Yes, until 1963.
Yeah I can see that because union pacific freight only interrupt service after lake forest on the union pacific north line and rock island district, southwest service, Milwaukee district north and heritage corridor line could be electrified and also metra should turn their diesel locomotives into dual mode locomotives
@@flashrocket9158 and most intercity amtrak trains use the heritage corridor so amtrak could make a high speed rail out of the heritage corridor line
Technically Denver Colorado has the furthest west electrified commuter rail with the rtd system
And that will change in the next year or so as CalTrain takes that spot.
Yeah, I completely forgot about the RTA when making this video. Good catch!
Max light rail in Portland Oregon
If you mean heavy rail, that is. And yes, CalTrain will soon take that crown
Great series! Can't wait for more episodes in the future. Metra is a pretty underappreciated commuter rail system at times, and has the potential to expand to so many other nearby suburbs if given the funding. Also, is that an official rendering of a Metra Siemens Charger at 20:42? If so, then it's the incorrect paint scheme for Metra at the moment. It also makes me wonder if they ever did consider the Charger, but Siemens might have offered a price that was too high for Metra due to little funding.
Nah, that’s a fan rendering. Glad you like the series!
I think Metra Siemens Chargers are a great fit because they're modern and new and Metra should order 800 new bi level cars that Capitol Corridor will be ordering.
@@WorldwideRailfan a developer for a metra group on roblox did it as a funny joke. I am curious, how did you stumble upon such images
@@cal4840 honestly I’m not sure. Just had it floating around in my camera roll for a while
@@WorldwideRailfan and also the F125's are not very reliable
Can you do Long Island railroad next. They are the busiest commuter rail in the entire country.
LIRR and Metro North!
Rolling stock isn't interesting? Sacrilege! I've been trying to learn the different types and manufactures, but beyond the model 1960 Pullmans and 90s/2000s Nippons, sources are hard to come by
Definitely continue this series, an analysis like this could be fascinating for other commuter or local roads too
Anyone living in the state of Illinois should be a bit pissed at Nippon Sharyo for abandoning a basically new facility in Rochelle after their railcar engineering failed.
@@Hiei2k7 they need to reopen that place to make more of the Nippon Sharyo cars instead those ugly multi-level cars.
@@tyhik9338 Nippon Sharyo pulled completely out and someone else set up a lease on the property.
The Sharyo cars failed the crush test, basically that in a crash the cars could "telescope" into another one. I don't think I want to have telescoped railcars lubricated with human remains...
@@Hiei2k7 lord have mercy
I'll take the classic, fluted stainless steel gallery cars with their even roof lines of the terribly painted, Bombardier octagons every other railroad is using. But I have to admit the new low floor bilevels will be an appreciated upgrade in terms of functionality.
4:12 Actually Denver’s RTD Is the most West if you count that as a commuter rail.
And once Calmod is finished, it will be Caltrain
How about Brightline West when it’s finished because isn’t that supposed to be electric
@@trainfanatic7768 That's HSR, not commuter rail
@@jacorp7476 Yeah and I was thinking about overhead trains I was thinking about high speed not commuter rail
I rode the METRA BNSF from Chicago Union Station to Naperville, IL Metra Station every day for 20 years. 31 miles. Took the 5PM rocket express making the run in 33 minutes. Same inbound every morning. The best service in the country. Rarely delayed and few breakdowns.
Really nice overview of our commuter rail! I can't wait for the new bilevel cars, and I wish Metra would break up with EMD and actually buy some good passenger locomotives. I can dream of Metra Siemens Chargers, or electrification of their other lines! I think you summed it up best at the end, calling them iconic yet antiquated and stubborn.
*S D 7 0 M A C H M O M E N T*
Take into account too that the F40PH was made in LaGrange IL, and that the talent they could get were likely people coming out of LaGrange or other nearby railroads that serviced a lot of EMDs over the years. Sometimes you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
That's what I'm talking about for Metra to order Siemens Chargers because they're fast.
@@marioscardina860 The current F40s go faster than the fastest speed on any Metra tracks. You don’t need to buy a locomotive with a top speed higher than your railroad has.
Break up with EMD and buy some good passenger locomotives?? EMD makes the best passenger locomotives ever made. GE’s are junk compared to the F40s, MP 36s are pigs compared to F40s and Chargers are overly complicated with the emissions equipment on board. I have run them all and I’ll take an F40 over any of them. You would be hard-pressed to find a passenger service engineer who would disagree
People complaining about the emissions from diesel electric locomotives drives me nuts. Trains are the most efficient possible way to move people and goods. The more cars and trucks we can replace with 1920s coal burning steam locomotives the better it would be for total emissions. Sure electric or Tier 4 is better than Tier 0 but compared to other modes it's negligible.
Love this series concept! Also, as a resident of the St. Louis area, Metra is something I genuinely wish we could emulate here.
It’s interesting you say that, considering the MetroLink (Bi-State Development) was developed between IL & MO with the long range plan of Commuter Lines from downtown STL to Festus/Pacific, MO & Alton, IL
@@bkark0935would kill for that with rapid transit frequencies
Would love to see you cover Southern California’s Metrolink in this manner!
Do you know Allen Fisher made a video about Chicago commuter rail system? You should take a look at his video too.
This came as a surprise to me considering I’m from Chicago!
Great video! So informative... and you have video for everything! Fantastic
Being from just outside of Chicago, I have used Metra hundreds of times, and used them to go to college downtown from the burbs. I was on the UP West line, and when it was expanded in '07 they had bought a bunch of new cars for the increased ridership. Until I moved to DC and rode on a MARC train, I didn't realize they were so old or different from most everywhere else. Chicago in general likes to hold on to tradition, same is true with the Chicago fire department, which has lots of old school/one of a kind items on apparatus. The CFD and many suburbs use the mars lights as well on their fire apparatus.
Tradition is more important sometimes.
Amazing video. Great information, thanks for putting in your time for this.
Thank you for creating this beautifully informative piece!👏🏻👏🏻
I love this series! Keep up the great work!!!
This was really interesting and well done. You held my attention solidly all the way through with all of the interesting details, past, present, and future. Totally fascinating. Looking forward to more of whatever ideas you have for videos like this!
Love your videos! Keep it up!
Great video! I hope we’ll see more improvements to the Metra fleet that are badly needed.
I think it would have also been good to add the Metra network explaining all the lines, where they go, and what they might do with them in the future (possible expansions, new stations, routes, etc.). That was the biggest thing missing in this video, especially given how big and expansive the network is.
I like this series. Looking forward to more.
A quick correction, Metra uses gyralight not Mars light on their locomotives and cab car units.
Thanks for a great video !
Excellent video! Subscribed!
Love the series! I'm curious on what railroad you will do next!?
20:41 honestly as a huge Charger fan myself, if Metra does get funding for new engines, this is the one they should go with. Not the dumb battery electric technology because they just would not do Metra any favors
You forgot that Metra has 3 ex amtrak locomotives in their F40ph fleet which are Metra 215 (Ex amtrak 258), 216 (Ex amtrak 375) and Metra F40ph 217 (Ex amtrak 364/ Ex VRE v32) however Metra F40ph 215 broke down in Morton Grove 2018, prior to the arrival of the Ex amtrak F59phi for Metra service.
California Cars and Surfliner Cars will go to Metra to have EMD F59phis as their locomotive.
@@marioscardina860 Highly unlikely because metra already ordered the alstom coradia multilevel train cars and the transition doors are completely different from each other
I see what you're saying and I know Caltrans and IDOT will order new bi level cars to replace the California Cars,Amfleets,Horizons and Surfliner Cars.
The new bi level cars will be for Capitol Corridor,Amtrak Midwest and Pacific Surfliner.
@@marioscardina860 No they won't. They already have Siemens Venture cars which are being delivered.
Loved this.
Metra as part of rebuilds could have almost certainly put in 710T2 or 710T3 in all their locos. they just chose not to save costs
Given they are only running at 80mph I don’t see the SD-70 having issues
The battery electric rebuilds would benefit from the expansion of overhead wires on their network. Not every track would require electrification, so long as the battery electrics can remain charged enough throughout their operation.
Basically a battery electric dual mode locomotive
@@maas1208 pretty much. Diesel electrics can be rebuilt for this purpose too, turning off the prime mover when connected to overhead wires.
@@mrmaniac3 I know and Metra could keep their diesels if they convert them into dual mode locomotives and they should electrify their least freight train disturbed routes
I don't understand why commuter rails like metra don't buy some dmu's (Like the Flirts or similar). While they wouldn't the same capacity, it seem like they could add frequency for cheaper and more efficiently than the bug loco hauled trains. As I understand, the FRA is now happy to waive their outdated crash requirement for this kind of stuff.
They could get some former SMART/UP Express DMUs built by Nippon Shiryo
I love Metra. they know how to make a system work.
I am about to start inspecting metra bridges in a couple weeks with my company 😁
I enjoyed this look into Metra great info. Soon Caltrain will join Metra as an operator of all electric trains as electrification is currently underway.
I was introduced to Metra in 2015, when the BNSF Railway was brought to Train Simulator. It'd be nice to see more Metra routes and engines in the game, given how diverse the system is.
Can't say I like the Gallery cars, given their age and unusual seating layout. It's a good thing that they're being replaced with proper double-decker coaches, though I would've preferred the classic Bombardier Bi-Levels instead of that new Alstom design.
Sacrilegious. It'll be a sad day when the galleries go. At least the Alston coaches have a very similar exterior look
Amazing video. I actually made a concept of the F125 and Charger's metra scheme.
They are gonna overall the F59PHI’s to tier 3 emissions, it was announced recently.
Awesome video, Metra is my favorite railroad, and the F59PHI locomotives will be rebuilt and receive the lightning bolt paint scheme
15 Amtrak California EMD F59phis number 2001-2015 will go to Metra.
@@marioscardina860 how do you know?
Because Capitol Corridor will have more Siemens Chargers to replace F59phis.
I think it's insane that the city's rail hasn't been electrified
Its the us remember freight railroads dont electricity.
The system works. Don't screw it up.
Metra serves five counties, plus share some rail lines with freight. Going fully electric is still a pipe dream.
Illinois Central electric, the closest S Bahn system in North America.
I rode on the south shore line from south bend to Chicago and back. It was nice.
14:10 It's a pretty rare sight to see an older painted gallery car these days on metra. I personally haven't seen one on a revenue run in at least 6-8 years as a chicago native and even then it was a rare sight on the northern lines.
Usually they are wrapped instead of painted. Sometimes they will wrap some with ads, like Miller Lite or I’ve seen some for Visit Scottsdale Arizona.
I have seen an F40PHM on the Northwest line and at the terminal, although that was a few years ago.
Thinking about Metra’s motive power situation and the EMD F125 really makes you miss the EMD we used to know.
Could you possibly put the LIRR on your list for the future ?
Doing one of coaster would be cool or Caltrain if you get out to film that
What about the plans for 'Chicago Crossrail' and other ideas proposed to connect/improve passenger services?
Chicago Crossrail would require Funding ($$) AND Community Support (See CP/KCS merger protests).
Critics are Fast with with “Hate Message” - BUT they have NO Solutions, when in Decision Role (No Funding, Cut Taxes, Welfare)
Crossrail hasn't even been finished in London and considering all the NIMBYs as well as the corrupt politicians and the Freight companies that refuse to let Electrification on their lines, by the time this does happen, the USA would cease to exist
I feel like Metra kept the Surfliner F59PHI paint scheme because they knew people would miss them being on the Surfline
Good video
I still can’t believe they’ve never looked into electrification for any of there lines… they could really benefit from it. I understand they don’t own the rails, but still, the UP North line could really benefit from it
Yeah I can see that because union pacific freight only interrupt service after lake forest on the union pacific north line and rock island district, southwest service, Milwaukee district north and heritage corridor line could be electrified and also metra should turn their diesel locomotives into dual mode locomotives
4:08 Well, Denver RTD's A Line does use Hyundai Rotems like SEPTA except the doors are different to make that another commuter rail running electric in the west, although we all know Caltrain is definitely next. Also Sam, regarding what you said about the Coradias coming for the agency VS. the Gallery coaches, I'm not sure if it could be possible that they may plan to get an EMU style of the Coradia Multilevels, but we'll have to find out if further articles will be posted.
Hi from South Africa. Thanks for a great video! Aren't the old EMD La Grange workshops also near these Chicago routes?
They are close to city. However, only thing still operating is the HQ building and R&D. Everything else has been moved to Indiana cause Caterpillar is a crap company.
@@dishsoap1 thanks!
I'm really interested to see the Battery Powered F40s. Those really intrigued me.
Throughout the 1930-1960 era, commuter rail (and passenger rail in general) had been dying a slow death. The Metra story begins with the death of the North Shore Line in 1963. After coming up short in the bid to save that line, public sentiment grew exponentially for saving regional passenger rail in the US. In 1964 the Urban Mass Transit Agency was formed as a funding mechanism to help keep commuter rail running in the northeast and Chicago. Their first project was the Howard to Dempster Street line of the departed North Shore. Deemed a success, the agency funded more and more commuter rail and transit projects. As the Class I railroads lurched into the 1970's, their physical plant and equipment declined precipitously. The State of Illinois began operating subsidies (RI and Milw) and purchase of service agreements (CNW and BN). However, with the bankruptcy of the Milwaukee Road and Rock island, the agency purchased the physical plant of the RI and the IC electric lines.
Wait doesn't the cta own the old north shore line tracks
electric district is the badass route!!! it's my favorite line
They should rebuild the budd/Pullman to the new Alstom specs
Metra is replacing the old Budd, Pullman and St Louis car company gallery cars however the Morrison-Knudsen/Amerail and Nippon Shriyo gallery cars will still remain in service tho
@@maas1208I hope the Pullman and Budd gets sent to a museum
If You got recommendations for railroad review I would like you to do the coaster and metrolink commuter rail but I would say coaster operation is better then metrolink commuter rail
I see these everyday
My favorite scene from home alone as a kid was the f40 running backwards haha or possibly they had a power cab and a cabbage patch on the other end
They all run forward one way and backwards the other. The engineer switches ends and operates from what’s called a cab car. The loco from the rear will receive its commands from the cab car.
Would you consider doing a video on the Morgantown WV PRT?
Nice video my friend like 172 and Greetings
The f59phi looks good on Metra
I think Metra might acquire more secondhand MPI units in the future. Many of the older types use EMD prime movers and a number will come available as other operators replace them in the remainder of the decade.
Also, Metra should consider converting their MP36PH-3Cs into MP40PH-3Cs.
@@maas1208 I'm not sure the MP40 model meets emissions regulations for rebuilt locomotives. There's a lot of restrictions on rebuilding and power unit swaps these days. Plus, it costs extra money which it seems Metra doesn't have.
i love metra!
I’m crazy about Metra! I know so much about the railroad it’s not even funny. I can identify every piece of equipment the railroad uses, and I even know every stop on 10 of the 11 lines
@@JohnAckerman93 electric line is my favorite.
Metra gets so much unwarranted hate. Considering they were underfunded for years and years I think for the longest time they proved to be very resourceful with the budget they had.
And personally I don’t think the gallery cars deserve all the hate they get. They’re not that bad, and I don’t think they seat that much less then normal bi level cars.
I agree with you. I personally like the older gallery cars, I ride in one every chance I get, it feels like a ride from a different time period. They are maintained pretty well, still ride pretty smooth, and have a decent amount of space, including the upper level.
FINALLY SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS
Can’t wait for the SWS reroute to LaSalle from Union
Hmm. Denver also has heavy rail electric multiple units, which is a relatively new development.
Come to Oregon and review the amtrak cascades and albany and eastern railroad
Heritage Units from least fav to fav: 🏙️🌃🌆 of Chicago, State of Illinois, CBNQ, Milwaukee Road, 🪨🏝️, & CNW
My buddy is a diesel mechanic for Amtrak and says those Siemens chargers locomotives are pure crap and they have nothing but issues with them. The only reason they keep getting more is because they already signed a contract. They rather have the GEs and EMDs.
Here is an interesting fact about Metra. There is one station outside of Illinois and is also the farthest north station on Metra. That station is Kenosha, Wisconsin on Metra's Union Pacific North Line. How I know this, I live in Kenosha, Wisconsin and has taken Metra to Downtown Chicago, all 55 miles. There is also a small yard for the trains to lay over during the weekends in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Freight trains do operate on the North Line, but not often, mainly coal trains heading to Oak Creek Power Plant in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Most freight uses the "New Line" a few miles inland.
51.6 miles to Chicago from Kenosha... and besides the coal between lake bluff and oak creek, we also have several local freight that work the Kenosha subdivision... (19 yrs working for the railroad)
Keep the sub titles up longer on the dates, times and routes. Thanks
One locomotive you missed is the F40C, although I don't blame you, they're really just a 6-axle variant of the F40PH with doubled prime movers and they're currently in the process of being decommissioned.
Bro, they have been decommissioned since the early 2000s, and the only remaining F40Cs are 611 and 614 which have been used for parts and are most likely to be Donated to museums or get Scrapped
@@maas1208
I guess the Wikipedia article is grossly outdated then.
So... regarding Metra's future...
Brightline has the solution in the form of biodiesel. Their SCB-40s have been running the stuff pretty much since the start, so it's proven to work. Metra would have to overhaul their prime movers, but it would help tremendously in reducing Metra's carbon footprint. It's not ideal, full electrification (overhead lines, not battery electric) is the best option, but it's an easy and cheap switch compared to taking the prime movers out of their existing fleet and stuffing them full of batteries, and it still allows them to at least go carbon neutral.
Still, something to consider about rail and carbon emissions is that rail will ALWAYS be far more efficient than cars or even busses in terms of carbon footprint to passenger ratio.
Yo it’s me at the end during media credits. Goofy stance
i used to live in university park and commuted to and from chicago until 2002 when i moved to indiana sadly
Can someone explain to me why they would do battery electric instead of just electrifying the line? Does this have to do with the freight companies owning the track?
Yes freight companies hate electrification because the overhead wires can reduce max freight car hight and are expensive
Would it be cheaper to update their diesels to Tier 4 and retrain the crews with the new engines, or to electrify their busiest routes?
Well, it requires SCR and DEF (Urea) to be used; though some may argue that adding them would be maintenance nightmare, but that's the only option if the EMD 710 Prime Movers to be Tier 4 Standard and there's no way around that, at least as far as I'm aware.
Not an expert on engineering, nor on this emissions control mumbo jumbo btw.
@@NitroFury Actually EMD has made a tier 4 prime mover which is the EMD 1010
Metra should order a fleet of MP54AC units to replace all the F40s - they are the successor of the MP36PH units and are fully compliant with current emission standards. GO Transit already uses them. Less training would be needed since they use practically the same body
No just buy New and better trains and also do electrification
They have Cummins prime movers. Metra only wants EMD prime movers.
Why not turn their existing diesel locomotives into dual mode locomotives
@@natestrains1166 Well metra could install EMD made tier 4 prime mover which is the EMD 1010
Rare six axle passenger locomotive ? What about the E units ? Metra had a whole bunch of them on the BN. Not to mention the E units on the C&NW (Crandle Cabs) Oh to hear those BN E units flying across Harlem Ave. again,
I second that!!
When you consider that Metra was the only commuter rail agency using 6 axle units they were most certainly rare.
4:13 what about Denver RTD?
Metra is so backwards that their schedule for their trains suck, I think I heard one line has only 3 trains in the morning inbound and 3 trains in the late afternoon/evening outbound.
that’s only like two lines, most lines have rush hour service and hour headways on weekdays and two hour headways on weekends. plus they offer additional service on those lines for big events; parades, festivals, etc
That line is the Heritage Corridor. The reason for that is because the line sees very few riders. Metra has been trying to get more ridership on the line. I know over the summer there was weekend service on the line for people to check out different places in some of the towns along the line
To my knowledge Metra isn’t going to overhaul the remaining F40PH-2’s. Instead it looks like those will be the first to go and get replaced by the new SD70mach’s.
Can you do MARC sooner than later?
What is next on Railroad Review? If I can suggest one, it would be my hometown commuter rail: Tri-Rail
What railroad will you look at next?
I can’t wait for the ↙️ Service to LaSalle & I would like them to open the proposed ↘️ Service
Can metra convert their mp36ph locomotives into mp54ph locomotives
The MP36s have a different 645 block than the F40.
See someone who knows there stuff lol Granted it is a 645 however yeah the block is different one of the reason BNSF didnt want to maintain them.
don’t the MP36s rev up to 926rpm? They have that 16-645F3B that was kinda similar to the ones in the GP50s?
Metra should get a new Siemens locomotives
I wanna see how the MAC’s turn out
can you sound transit at some point i know their heavy rail network is very small but sound transit has the fastest growing light rail network in the country
They should order septa sliver liner 5 or new EMU to replace there EMU services and should ask a manufacturer to build new f40ph for Metra
as a Chicago native who uses Metra frequently they have a lot they need to fix.
1. schedules and more frequent trains
2. just buy the chargers already and / or convert more lines to overhead electric rather than messing around with silly battery locomotives. let the freight railroads screw with that
3. just replace all the current bilevel cars with the new Coradia Multilevels. the existing bilevels while nostalgic are... suboptimal to say the least and very tired equipment
4. track improvements
5. construct more lines and open stations in places that makes sense - one of the most ridiculous examples of this is not having a direct stop to the Kane county cougars stadium when the trains runs RIGHT NEXT the the ballpark
6. use the states power to buy the right of way and trackage from the private freight railroads (and by this I mean only in the areas that Metra operates). Union Pacific, BNSF, and CN/CP have all been openly hostile towards Metra's operations in the exact same fashion as how they deal with Amtrak.
Metra is a local treasure but because it's so important, improving it is extremely important as well. I realize there are cities with infinitely worse public transportation but hey, that's no reason to stop pushing for improvements in service, funding, etc.
Metra could keep their diesels if they convert them into dual mode locomotives and they should electrify their least freight train disturbed routes
The Chargers Suck in the winter
I are ready know what metra is getting