Passenger Trains > Metra Electric Not Running Again

https://metrarail.com

As of 600 am the Metra Electric is not operating due to winter weather.
Temperature is 50 degrees warmer than when the Electric was shut down for days during the cold snap.

Non-Electrified, diesel powered Rock Island Beverly Branch operating fine.
Can't wait for Metra to string wire on the Rock as part of their $5,000,000,000.00 "improvement plan".
 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/12/19 04:06 by Englewood.

Englewood Wrote:
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> https://metrarail.com
>
> As of 600 am the Metra Electric is not operating
> due to winter weather.
> Temperature is 50 degrees warmer than when the
> Electric was shut down for days during the cold
> snap.
>
> Non-Electrified, diesel powered Rock Island
> Beverly Branch operating fine.
> Can't wait for Metra to string wire on the Rock as
> part of their $5,000,000,000.00 "improvement
> plan".
>  

South Suspended, will re evaluate at 9:00 AM.  At that time, why bother?  The cows are out the barn.

Bob

There is also a traffic nightmare this morning. Yesterday they found cracks in the support beams of northbound Lake Shore Drive near Navy Pier, so it is out of service. There were a lot of crashes this morning on other roads.

inCHI Wrote:
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> There is also a traffic nightmare this morning.
> Yesterday they found cracks in the support beams
> of northbound Lake Shore Drive near Navy Pier, so
> it is out of service. There were a lot of crashes
> this morning on other roads.

Traffic a nightmare, just when eveyone needs public transportation it is not there.
Rapidly become novelty transportation, just like Amtrak.

And... the gates on the Rock Island line at 191st St. were stuck down.

This is what eastbound I80/94 looks like, with a truck crash blocking 4 out of 5 lines, or something like that. Granted, that isn't the direction of commuting to downtown Chicago, but it looks like a mess out there.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/12/19 07:13 by inCHI.

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All over America’s big cities — just like this... Sad!!!
But, getting on my train soon to avoid any I-80 issues getting to work—
Cannot stand I-80, or most any Interstate now. When I get back to Chi, it’s a lonnnnng crawl on the Kennedy from the loop to O’Hare— everytime now !

Did anyone notice that there was an ice storm overnight? It happens every now and then during winters in Chicago. And yes Metra and the South Shore will suspend service due to potential to damage the overhead catenary system.
 I had about a 1/4" of ice on the trees in my yard this morning and about the same on the driveway (made worse by a thin layer of snow on top of it. 

kevink Wrote:
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> Did anyone notice that there was an ice storm
> overnight? It happens every now and then during
> winters in Chicago. And yes Metra and the South
> Shore will suspend service due to potential to
> damage the overhead catenary system.
>  I had about a 1/4" of ice on the trees in my
> yard this morning and about the same on the
> driveway (made worse by a thin layer of snow on
> top of it. 

Don't let the facts get in the way of someone's rant.

Yes, I noticed there was an ice storm overnight
I was on the road at 6 am.
Ice storms usually wreak havoc on electrified lines.
That is why my OP made the comparison between the Metra Electric and Rock Island lines.
Metra wants to electrify the Rock Island Beverly branch so it will be as dependable as the Electric Dist.

Dependable transportation is not just a warm, sunny day operation.

Unlike a PSR freight operation, a commuter outfit can't go in the computer and make trains disappear
or phony up transit times.  The freight on commuter lines can tell time and know where they really are.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/12/19 12:07 by Englewood.

kevink Wrote:
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> And yes Metra and the South Shore will suspend service due to potential to damage the overhead catenary system.

NICTD was ready to run today until Metra closed down their connection to the loop. NICTD ended up staging trains at four stations, loading them with passengers and waiting for Metra to open the line. Metra ended up running Saturday service (once they opened the line).

NICTD has the benefit of having constant tension catenary. Metra probably should upgrade the Electric District to constant tension and use constant tension for the Rock Island if it is elecrtrified. Modern catenary design works better.

Driving on ice is suicidal. Faster than 15 mph guarantees all control will be lost. Don't try it!