AMTRAK [ Chicago Union Station ] [ Minnesota, yes, all of it ]

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• BREAKING (literally): After the discovery of corrosion on Horizon railcars (the boxy single-level ones), Amtrak has removed the entire fleet from service. Let's hope this is only a safety precaution and the issue is resolved quickly, Amtrak is severely lacking in spare cars.
• In the Midwest: The Chicago–St. Paul Borealis and half of Chicago–Milwaukee Hiawatha Service trains have been indefinitely replaced by buses.
• On the East Coast: Downeaster (Boston–Brunswick) is operating as usual, but with fewer cars.
• Meanwhile in the Pacific Northwest: Vancouver–Eugene Cascades is indefinately replaced by buses, except one daily train (503/508) operating with a Talgo trainset. Is this irony?
• Chicago–New Orleans City of New Orleans will operate on a later schedule (provided on this website) from mid-March to mid-April to accommodate Canadian National track work. See the timeline here: [ external link ]

METRA [ Union Station ] [ Ogilvie ] [ LaSalle ] [ Joliet ] [ Millennium ]

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• Metra is seeking feedback on potentially renaming lines! Building off recent signage improvements and the Union Pacific transition, Metra is exploring options to streamline route names in an effort to improve system legibility and wayfinding. The options are (hover over each name in the examples to see what it currently is):
• ‘M’ for Metra System. A single color shared across all lines, with services delineated by number. Numbers increase radially from north to west to south, and downtown terminals concentrate a range of numbers. For example, at Union Station you have access to
  M4North Central Service
  ,
  M5Milwaukee District North
  ,
  M6Milwaukee District West
  ,
  M7BNSF
  ,
  M8Heritage Corridor
  , and
  M9SouthWest Service
  . At Ogilvie you would have access to
  M1Union Pacific North
  ,
  M2Union Pacific Northwest
  , and
  M3Union Pacific West
  .
• Cardinal Direction System. Groups line numbers by three established outbound cardinal directions, colors are coordinated by downtown terminals. For example, at Union Station you have access to
  N2North Central Service
  ,
  N3Milwaukee District North
  ,
  W1Milwaukee District West
  ,
  W3BNSF
  ,
  S1Heritage Corridor
  , and
  S4SouthWest Service
  . At Ogilvie you would have access to
  N1Union Pacific North
  ,
  N4Union Pacific Northwest
  , and
  W2Union Pacific West
  .
• No change. All line names and colors remain the same, except ex-Union Pacific lines need to be remained when Metra assumes operations from Union Pacific.
• More information: [ external link ], illustrative document: [ external pdf ], and survey: [ external link ]


• The main (Randolph & Michigan) elevator at Millennium Station is permanently out of service, although the South Water Street auxiliary elevator remains in service. Unfortunately the elevator at Van Buren Street is also out of service, the nearest alternative is Museum Campus/11th Street.
• If you require an elevator to exit Millennium, alert your conductor and they will accommodate you.
• Metra Electric District stations at 87th Street/Woodruff and 95th Street/Chicago State University are closed for rebuilding. Additionally, the 79th Street/Chatham and 103rd Street/Rosemoor stations may not be accessible from 9am–4pm on weekdays.

UNION PACIFIC (METRA)

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• Reminder that all Union Pacific lines are left-hand running. Review platform wayfinding if you are unfamiliar with the route or station.
• Union Pacific is expecting to transfer service to Metra in April.

South Shore Line (NICTD) [ Millennium ] [ Gary ]

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• The main (Randolph & Michigan) elevator at Millennium Station is permanently out of service, although the South Water Street auxiliary elevator remains in service. Unfortunately the elevator at Van Buren Street is also out of service, the nearest alternative is atrociously at 57th Street.

Other [ Minnesota, yes, all of it ]

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• Metro Transit will operate a Northstar Line extra for Twins home games. Details are expected soon. Check the timetable, various days have various departures.