Passenger Trains > Nostalgic for bar cars? Metra may introduce ‘café cars’

Daily Harold 7/16/25

Back in the day, Metra riders could fortify themselves after an arduous day at the office in what was known as a bar car.

Those havens were gradually decommissioned but some passengers haven’t forgotten, and Metra is now considering an alternative version — the “café car.”

Through surveys and in conversations with riders, “’we’ve heard a lot of comments about ‘when are the bar cars coming back?’” Executive Director Jim Derwinski said at a Wednesday board meeting.

The new models would offer refreshments but that might not include alcohol, officials said.

Metra’s mechanical staff created a prototype from an existing rail car that debuted at a “commuter coffee rave” at the LaSalle Street Station in June in coordination with the Active Transportation Alliance.

The event, featuring a DJ, was a hit with over 150 people and so was the train car, Derwinski said. The prototype featured a counter with stools plus tables and chairs.

Comments from attendees included: “I hope this becomes a reality,” “Do it now,” “Adding a café car on busy commutes would be delightful for travelers” and “I would buy food and drinks.”

Armed with that feedback, Metra officials plan to market the café car concept with stops at suburban and downtown stations over the next several months.

Riders will be asked for their opinions on offering such a feature and what they’d like to see in a café car.

If there’s a positive response, logistics and budgeting will be considered and potentially a recommendation made to the Metra board.

“Everything is under consideration,” spokesman Michael Gillis said.

“There’s a whole business model behind that if this becomes a reality,” Derwinski said. “But I think at this point in time, it’s really just about trying to get public feedback as an amenity on the train.”

Derwinski noted that commuter bar cars originated on Chicago train lines before Metra was incorporated in 1984.

An added benefit could be for the Rockford train which could possibly have a cafe car eventually.

Which type of gallery car did they retrofit ? 

Google "commuter coffee rave" and you'll see photos of the car. I couldn't see a number but TO folks should be able to tell the make, model, year and the names of the workers that built the car. :)

in pre Amtrak days, only the bankrupt New Haven reported "profit" from the dining service which was dominated by sale of gallons of alcohol to those returning from Manhattan offices to suburbia.   Metra OTOH used to have several semi private cars which riders paid extra to ride which had refreshments.    On a MARC trip from DC to Martinsburg some years back, I watched a full case of beer shared among regular riders.   It appeared that the crew was unsurprised and ignored the drinking.

A blurry glimpse of the car number on the end door as they were walking through the car looked like the car number was 61x7. The third digit was too blurred to make out, but may be a 3 or an 8.

Posted from iPhone

Meanwhile, Metra riders are still waiting for the new coaches and cab cars from Alstom. It’s been way too quiet on that front.

Posted from iPhone

Bar cars were a fixture on some of the LIRR trains during the P72 era.  Have no idea why they were discontinued. How can u lose money selling booze to afternoon commuters?   Having a drink after work is a tradition for white collar workers.

DOnt tell me that it's the dreaded liability issue again.   Are relatives of ppl who do really stupid things after drinking, still suing the servers for serving them? 

 

Hopefully the lower level windows won't be blocked out in any final version.

pdt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bar cars were a fixture on some of the LIRR trains
> during the P72 era.  Have no idea why they were
> discontinued. How can u lose money selling booze
> to afternoon commuters?   Having a drink after
> work is a tradition for white collar workers.
>
> DOnt tell me that it's the dreaded liability issue
> again.   Are relatives of ppl who do really
> stupid things after drinking, still suing the
> servers for serving them


Go back to the California Starving thread and the final 3 or 4 posts about the MTA.  

Posted from Android

One look at that footage and it sums up what people (and the world) are like today.

kevink Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Meanwhile, Metra riders are still waiting for the
> new coaches and cab cars from Alstom. It’s been
> way too quiet on that front.
>
> Posted from iPhone

Metra in a recent newsletter says late 2026 to enter service.

pdt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bar cars were a fixture on some of the LIRR trains
> during the P72 era.  Have no idea why they were
> discontinued. How can u lose money selling booze
> to afternoon commuters?   Having a drink after
> work is a tradition for white collar workers.
>
> DOnt tell me that it's the dreaded liability issue
> again.   Are relatives of ppl who do really
> stupid things after drinking, still suing the
> servers for serving them? 
>
>  

I’ve been both a white collar and blue collar. They both went to drink after work.

Posted from iPhone

pdt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> DOnt tell me that it's the dreaded liability issue
> again.   Are relatives of ppl who do really
> stupid things after drinking, still suing the
> servers for serving them? 
>
>  

It is the relatives of the people that were killed by the over served that are the concern.   And rightfully so.   

kevink Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Meanwhile, Metra riders are still waiting for the
> new coaches and cab cars from Alstom. It’s been
> way too quiet on that front.
>
> Posted from iPhone

The plant to construct them just opened, the first prototype is under construction and expected in 2026.

pdt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bar cars were a fixture on some of the LIRR trains
> during the P72 era.  Have no idea why they were
> discontinued. How can u lose money selling booze
> to afternoon commuters?   Having a drink after
> work is a tradition for white collar workers.
>
> DOnt tell me that it's the dreaded liability issue
> again.   Are relatives of ppl who do really
> stupid things after drinking, still suing the
> servers for serving them? 
>
>  

LIRR and MetroNorth said it was due to a change in equipment structure that retired the bar cars. We also had commuter club cars into the 21st century. Not sure if I see this coming back online though - bar cars of cafe cars. Nice prototype and interestin talk - but will it come to be? Hard pressed to see it into reality. Hope so, but I have my doubts. 

restricted_speed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One look at that footage and it sums up what
> people (and the world) are like today.

Looks okay to me. What’s wrong? Or right?

Posted from iPhone

Interesting that commuter railroads can find a demand for nostalgic bar car - and may introduce "cafe cars" - but Amtrak and its state partners don't see value in providing a cafe car for multi-hour train routes.