Changes To Metra BNSF Line Coming

By Nick Gale, WLS-AM 890 News

(CHICAGO) Metra’s BNSF line will be the first to get Positive Train Control, but as part of the deal to make it work correctly, Metra says more time is needed between train runs.

So, Metra has put out a revised schedule for public review an comment. It can be found on Metra’s website.

Metra says a “significant revision of the line’s schedule” will start this summer, likely in June or July.

And Metra claims it’s not just PTC that is the reason for changes. They say they are proposing other changes to relieve overcrowding on some of the busiest trains, match the schedule to actual operating conditions and reduce bunching at a choke point near Cicero.

Judging by social media, the changes are already leaving BNSF riders upset.

PTC is a federally mandated safety system that will automatically stop a train if the engineer fails to obey a signal or exceeds the speed limit.

Similar changes will be needed on other lines as PTC is implemented.

Back in 2010 Metra announced that PTC would be operational on all of its lines by 2015 but now it looks like it won’t impact all lines until 2020.

Feedback will be accepted at [email protected] until April 15. Metra may revise the proposal based on feedback.